STM mismanagement blamed for bus no-shows
Mismanagement of maintenance is being blamed for no-show buses throughout the STM. It’s not the first time I’ve seen reports of complaints about a hiring freeze on mechanics leading to too much overtime and a maintenance backlog, but the question of not refuelling buses efficiently is a new one on me. And why don’t buses have a fuel gauge?
Update: A bus driver overheard me talking about this story just now and says that the situation is not new.
Further thoughts: headlines are stressing that drivers are paid to do nothing. I’ve seen comments here and there sneering at drivers for this, and I’m wondering why the credulous public are being led to see it this way. If a driver shows up for her shift and has no bus to drive, it is not her fault, and sitting around the bus garage waiting is not “doing nothing” if the driver has to idle there for hours.
The issue is not about the drivers, but about STM mismanagement of the maintenance side. Projet has promised us new buses, but it’s pointless if there aren’t the resources to keep them running.
Further update: the mechanics’ union and the STM are engaging in mutual blame over the lagging bus maintenance.
Morgan 23:47 on 2019-02-08 Permalink
I’m sure this will be shot down, but couldn’t the drivers who have no buses somehow be redirected to fuel them up?
I’m a huge fan of unions, but even to me It just seems like the height of ridiculousness to have drivers sitting around twiddling their thumbs and not driving because there aren’t enough employees to put gas in the buses. (I know that wouldn’t solve the maintenance issues, but it jumped out at me)
Kate 04:04 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
You’re a cook, and you show up to work, but the boss hasn’t bought any food yet and asks you to vacuum the restaurant while you wait.
You’re a programmer and you show up to work, but the power is out so the boss asks you to empty the office wastepaper baskets while you wait.
You’re a blue-collar worker and you show up to work, but the vehicles are all out of gas so the boss sends you to get coffee.
Yeah, people have actual pride in what they do, and being told “it’s not your fault but, hey, since you’re here, grab this gas hose” is never going to play well.
mare 09:30 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
Your analogy is a bit off, it’s more like:
You’re a cook, and you show up to work, but the n hasn’t bought any food yet and asks you to come with him to the fish market, so you can start doing your actual job..
You’re a programmer and you show up to work, but the power is out so the boss asks you to work on your laptop until the battery runs out, so you can start doing your actual job..
You’re a blue-collar worker and you show up to work, but the vehicles are all out of gas so the boss asks you to get fuel, so you can start doing your actual job..
Since the lack of gas in their busses prevents them from doing their job, it’s not completely out of left field. Unfortunately, even if the unions would allow it, is refuelling a dirty job, and they will stink of fuel afterwards.
steph 09:56 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
When the city adds 5%more buses to heir fleet, they should hire 5% more bus drivers, 5% more mechanics and 5% more re-fuelers. Management is cutting corners and not hiring accordingly.
Chris 12:08 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
Both Kate’s and mare’s analogies seem fine to me, as long as they are infrequent occurrences.
jeather 17:34 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
They literally are being paid to wait around and do nothing. It doesn’t seem like an indictment of the drivers at all, just a statement of fact.
Kevin 19:34 on 2019-02-09 Permalink
Kate
When I was a cook I often had to clean and mop floors
As a writer I have to empty my own recycling bin and trash can in a central location.
Unless the STM gets gas fairies (my wife often has one, go figure) I see nothing wrong with drivers learning how to pump gas.
Kate 10:23 on 2019-02-10 Permalink
Kevin, it may not be as simple as gassing up a car. I don’t know. There may be safety factors involved for which the drivers are not trained (and have no interest in being trained).
Also, although unions are castigated for taking this kind of position, getting someone to do work outside their job description is felt to be the thin end of the wedge. If an “idle” driver can be asked to pump gas, why not get them to clean buses, for example? Where does this kind of thing end?
I’m sure the drivers’ contract sets out the terms of their work, and it doesn’t include random requests not related to their main activity.
The fact that the driver is idling because management won’t sort out the root of the problem (hire more mechanics, figure out why buses are breaking down so often) gets lost in the public’s anger at paying a bus driver to “do nothing.” But it’s the only fair thing to do until someone reads the riot act to STM management.
Joey 11:08 on 2019-02-10 Permalink
The best thing bus drivers could do to improve their standing in the public’s eye would be to allow passengers lined up in the cold outside metro stations to board instead of idling twenty feet away until their scheduled departure time is imminent.
Kate 11:22 on 2019-02-10 Permalink
Joey, an STM bus driver has been kind to me and a few coworkers lately, but I know he’s not supposed to be doing it so I won’t go into detail.
Uatu 11:29 on 2019-02-11 Permalink
Like Kate said it might be more complicated than gassing up a car and if something goes wrong, then who’s responsible? @ Kevin- it doesn’t surprise me that you had to mop floors. I’m surprised the chef didn’t make you scrub pots, wash dishes bus tables too. The restaurant business is notorious for exploiting workers. It’s the easiest way they can make a profit.