It is true that ATU is trying to change the law.
We would like to make it so that the RTD Board of Directors can decide for themselves how many of our routes are given out to subcontractors and how many routes we run. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Unfortunately, there are knee-jerk Republicans out there who are horrified at the thought of a Union actually doing something that would help the public.
I have written about the subcontractors before (see my old blog), and the truth is that a subcontracted route saves money only because the drivers are paid about 1/3 less than a unionised driver, and they receive no benefits like health insurance. On the other hand, their company makes a profit, which RTD does not, and their managers are probably paid more. Any actual savings that RTD makes depends on your accounting and who you talk to.
We have said for years that if the subcontractors and the divisions of RTD were on an equal footing, we could compete very well. If they really want to privatize us, why not convert the entire RTD fleet to private business. They could even sell off the divisions, that would leave the Dispatching and Customer Service and actual administration of RTD in the hands of the Board of Directors.
I do not know if it would be necessary to require all the subcontractors to pay decent wages and give health benefits. That is being done for many subcontracted entities in Denver, including the "prevailing wage" clause that Denver has always required of its subcontractors, and RTD has applied this to some of its subcontractors as well. Most of the subcontractors cannot come even close to hiring enough drivers, and any mechanics they hire soon leave for better jobs. This is the main reason they have always done so poorly in serving the public. They have more complaints, more lates, more missed runs.
We would like to make it so that the RTD Board of Directors can decide for themselves how many of our routes are given out to subcontractors and how many routes we run. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Unfortunately, there are knee-jerk Republicans out there who are horrified at the thought of a Union actually doing something that would help the public.
I have written about the subcontractors before (see my old blog), and the truth is that a subcontracted route saves money only because the drivers are paid about 1/3 less than a unionised driver, and they receive no benefits like health insurance. On the other hand, their company makes a profit, which RTD does not, and their managers are probably paid more. Any actual savings that RTD makes depends on your accounting and who you talk to.
We have said for years that if the subcontractors and the divisions of RTD were on an equal footing, we could compete very well. If they really want to privatize us, why not convert the entire RTD fleet to private business. They could even sell off the divisions, that would leave the Dispatching and Customer Service and actual administration of RTD in the hands of the Board of Directors.
I do not know if it would be necessary to require all the subcontractors to pay decent wages and give health benefits. That is being done for many subcontracted entities in Denver, including the "prevailing wage" clause that Denver has always required of its subcontractors, and RTD has applied this to some of its subcontractors as well. Most of the subcontractors cannot come even close to hiring enough drivers, and any mechanics they hire soon leave for better jobs. This is the main reason they have always done so poorly in serving the public. They have more complaints, more lates, more missed runs.
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