Transit Union Ltr @ Parttimers
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The Plight of the "Part Time" Keyline Bus Drivers
Dear Council Person:
I would like you to consider the situation and condition some city of Dubuque employees find themselvcs
in. Keyline has (3) three Full time and (14) fourteen part time drivers.
The three full time drivers receive full benefits-Insurance- Vacation pay-II Holidays-Sick pay- Longevity pay and
several other items.
The so-called part time drivers get 4 Holidavs @6 hours ofpav, not8 hours as do thc full time drivers, no
insurance, No vacation, No sick pay, and are penalized when they are sick- No longevity pay-No seniority and are
forced to work on Sundays at Straight time, No premium pay for working Holidays or Sundays.
The current Full time drivers get triple time on Holidays.
Part timers are supposed to work no more than the city-imposed cap of 1664 hours per year-about 30-hour
average per week. When Keyline is busy or short on help we work up to 50 or more hours a week, sometimes for
a few months at a time. Then they ask us to lift the hour cap and keep working. We have voted to lift the cap
more than once to help out and earn money. The bottom six (6) or so drivers have a frequent turnover rate. This
causes more frequent training and expense.
All the bus drivers work good together in spite of the unequal conditions and hul"e wage disparity. Part
timers must have the samc DOT license and pass the same tests and must learn the routes quickly. We all have to
handle all kinds of people including many handicapped and learn their habits and problems to see that they get to
their destinations.
Full timers get a (40) Forty-hour guarantee. The work is always a known quantity, except for special
events. There are established route plans which allows for more full time jobs. It is not sporadic like in the freight
business.
When this messy inequity was established there were probably 30 or more full time drivers and less than 6
part time drivers. Now the statistics have changed to 3 full time and 14 part timers.
When full timer's leave or retire, their job disappears and they are replaced by part time workers, this is a
bleak scenario.
The city recognizes no part time seniority and the labor contract gives them virtually no rights. ]t is
repressive that FOUR of our Part timers have over 10 vears on the iob. no seniority and receive not one (1) week
of vacation.
This is wrong, eight (8) out often (10) Americans receive a paid vacation.
They have no other income; we are dedicated employees and hoped to ascend to a better job position with
time invested.
The time is overdue to rectifY this situation. How many part time Firemen or policemen or other trained
employees does the city have?
Is this discount store employment attitude going to persist and expand? Is this fair? People cannot buy
houses and pay taxes and maintain their health or participate in Dubuque's progress and the American dream in
this situation.
We realize that funding for the Arts and Animals and BeautifYing the city is important, but aren't people
important also?
We would appreciate your consideration of these bus drivers and other city employee's dilemma. Would
you remÿmber the part time bus drivers in September when planning next years budget?
'1)
Thanking you for your time and service.
Wayne L. Strohmeyer ~ ~4
President of Amalgamated Tra~~n Local 329
And a Part time bus driver