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Metro Prepares To Cut 220 Jobs
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Catoe hired Gayland Moffat Consulting Inc. to perform a comprehensive review of the agency, and its findings supported a decision to pare staff. The firm found "excess administrative and managerial staff," duplication of functions and an organization structure "out of alignment with priorities," according to a copy of the 43-page report. A new organization structure is to be presented to the Metro board Thursday.
The consulting firm also found that an unusually high number, about 21 percent, of Metro employees are eligible for retirement; that the agency has too many administrative workers and not enough workers in bus and rail operations; and that it relies too heavily on overtime.
The firm recommended hiring staff to reduce Metro's high overtime spending. Numerous mechanics, bus drivers, train operators and Transit Police officers have made more than $100,000 in a year because of overtime pay.
Overtime has a significant impact on long-term costs because pensions are based on the total number of hours worked. As a result, some retirees receive pension checks bigger than the base pay they received while working.
Catoe said he plans to address the overtime issue by beefing up staffing in bus and rail operations. By dropping the requirement that bus drivers start as part-timers, he hopes to increase the applicant pool and fill bus vacancies faster.
Because rail operators must first work as bus drivers, he wants to step up training of bus drivers so there can be "aggressive recruitment" for Metrorail, which has 200 vacancies, he said.
Metro officials have been working with representatives of two unions, Amalgamated Transit Workers Union Local 689 and Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 2, to make sure correct procedures are followed in laying off workers.
Most of the affected employees will be eligible for 60 days' paid administrative leave, effective immediately, in addition to a severance package. Metro also will make available to affected employees a facility for job hunting, with access to computers, Internet connections, phones, voice mail and photocopiers.
