ATU Local 689 answers your questions

Editor’s note: We asked our supporters to submit any questions they had for Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, which represents transit workers in the Washington region. Here are your questions, answered. You can read the last Q&A we had with Local 689 in 2011 here.

Q1: What are your thoughts about people hopping fare gates or not paying when boarding the bus? Do you think anything should (or can) be done to improve fare collection, and if so, what should that be?

At Metro stations, the Union supports the installation of taller fare gates and recent DC legislative changes that would empower law enforcement to combat fare evasion. Many of the Metrobuses have fareboxes that are not fully functional. The Union supports repairing or replacing fareboxes to ensure they all work properly.

Fare collection is currently an important piece in how WMATA is funded, and many different people from across different socioeconomic backgrounds rely on public transit. The Union is willing to participate in conversations about the future of fare collections for public transportation in our region. However, we also know that violence often occurs against transit workers when we are pushed to collect fares. As such, we were supportive of the council’s proposal to make Metrobus free, which was included in the Metro for DC Amendment Act of 2021. Metro needs dedicated funding and overreliance on fares weakens the system and tends to hurt working-class people the most.

Q2: When people you know ask you whether they should consider a career as a transit worker, what do you tell them?

Public transit is a tough, grueling job but a great opportunity to serve the public and ultimately a great career. Our members genuinely care about the public they get to serve and often recognize and sometimes even get to know them by name. Local 689 has been able to successfully advocate for our members to ensure they have fair compensation and good benefits so that they can support themselves and their families. Robust public transit is essential for the continual success of the Washington, DC region and transit workers are the key ingredient to that success.

Q3: How do new bus operators learn their routes?

New bus operators first memorize the routes and then they drive the routes with a trainer in the bus looking over their shoulder. Once the bus operator feels comfortable with the route, they will drive without the trainer.

Q4: How are ATU Local 689 and other unions in the DMV working together to get the funding Metro needs? Does ATU Local 689 have relationships with DC high schools and UDC’s Community College that can help with recruiting new Metro employees?

Local 689 has been working closely with the Labor community as well as local, state, and federal elected officials to address the short-term funding needs and implement a long-term dedicated funding source. The Union is grateful for the financial commitments from the compact partners to date, and we are continuing to engage with them in order to secure the additional funding necessary for the long-term sustainability of Metro.

Currently, Local 689 does not have partnerships in place with DC or the other school systems in the area to recruit for transit careers, but that is a great idea and something we are now exploring!

Q5: Are there jobs in the Local 689 bargaining unit that high school grads can qualify for? What can high schools do to prepare students for these jobs? Does the Union have a relationship with the UDC Community College that helps grads qualify for jobs with Metro? Does the Union have a role in helping mgmt stop gate-jumping at Metro stations: often the station manager doesn’t respond when people jump gates. What is the Union’s role in helping to seek funding for Metro? Is there more the Union could do to explain to the public the importance of Metro as an essential public resource in the DMV?

Depending on the position, the minimum age for some positions is 18. The minimum age to drive a bus is 21. Local 689 offers free classes to help people get their Commercial Driver License (CDL) Learner Permit, and then works with the transit agencies to offer them an interview for a position. We are exploring the possibility of partnering with some regional community colleges that offer CDL classes.

One of the primary focuses of the station managers is to help passengers navigate the system, whether by providing information about which line to take or helping the public access the station’s bathrooms. The Metro Transit police have jurisdiction over enforcing fare evasion. Too often when transit workers try to enforce fares themselves, they are subject to physical violence on the job.

The Union will continue our dialogue with lawmakers across the compact members to ensure funding to solve the current shortfall and create a dedicated, sustainable funding stream. Local 689 strongly advocates for the important role Metro plays in the DMV but efforts can always be improved. Every day, our Metro employees demonstrate their dedication and commitment to moving the region and serving the public. We work to amplify their service.

Q6: How are bus drivers assigned to routes? How often do route assignments change? How much training do bus drivers receive on the geography of their routes? (If I don’t know where I’m going, is it fair to ask my driver?) Do drivers prefer front door or back door boarding? Do drivers notice when riders say thank you?

The bus routes and the shifts are developed by WMATA in consultation with the Union. Every 6 months, there is a ‘system pick.’ A ‘system pick’ in basic terms is when the bus drivers, starting with the most senior employees and then working down the seniority list, select which bus routes and what shift they would like to work.

New bus drivers typically have a few weeks of training, in which they drive the bus with a trainer riding along with them.

Our bus drivers memorize their routes, and the buses are equipped with GPS. Yes, bus drivers are great resources to help people navigate the city!

Riders are welcome to board from either the front or the back if the bus has both options. Either way, our bus operators are happy to have folks aboard and help them get where they need to go!

Absolutely, drivers do greatly appreciate when the riders express gratitude. Our bus operators love getting to know their passengers and seeing them sometimes every day!

Q7: What are the most common dangerous behaviors you see from people driving cars?

Drivers often are not paying attention, or they drive carelessly or too fast for a busy metropolis. Cars often cut buses off or turn directly in front of them from another lane, which could result in collisions. Cars are often driving in or parked for long periods in the designated bus lanes. Cars blocking the bus lanes create hazards every time the bus operator needs to go around the car by entering a busy lane.

Q8: How should buses and cyclists share bus/bike lanes?

In some parts of the region, there are roads with separate bike lanes from the bus. Otherwise, our bus operators drive carefully around bikes just as they do with any other vehicle. Likewise, cyclists should understand that while our drivers are always on the lookout, buses are not as easy to maneuver as smaller personal-use automobiles. As such, we urge cyclists to stay clearly visible to operators and use caution. Most buses are equipped with bike racks and bicyclists are welcome to use those as well. In all, the Union welcomes cyclists as they are often bus and Metrorail riders too!

We also agree that we need comprehensive public infrastructure that allows for safe traversal of our streets for everyone — whether they are riding a bus, on a bike, or on foot. For too long, we haven’t held motorists accountable for obstructing the existing infrastructure — be they bike lanes or bus lanes. That needs to change, and that’s why we were glad to see the Clear Lanes Program rolled out. We can and should continue to make our streets safer and fairer.