RFTA drivers contend union could strengthen bus system

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.postindependent.com/news/15088070-113/drivers-contend-union-could-strengthen-aspen-area-bus-system

February 16, 2015

Two public bus drivers who helped organize a vote on joining a union said Monday their effort is intended to strengthen the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) rather than create confrontation.

Ed Cortez, a bus driver who was selected by other drivers to head a committee organizing the vote, said raising pay for drivers could help ease the turnover RFTA experiences among its veteran drivers. Between 35 and 40 percent of RFTA’s full-time driving positions turn over each year, Cortez said. Part of that is due to drivers being unable to make a financially viable career out of the posts, he said.

Cortez said he has seen the turnover firsthand. He was “dead last” among drivers in seniority when he started with the agency 2½ years ago. He has since moved up from 139 to 81 in the pecking order.

RFTA incurs high expenses from hiring and training new drivers every year and losing a veteran presence hurts the agency’s ability to deliver services, Cortez said. There have been 57 separate accidents involving buses since early December, according to Cortez and Tim Honan, another driver on the organizing committee. Not all of those accidents were the fault of RFTA drivers.

FULL story at link.