Unsuck DC Metro: Sarles Puts Employee Pensions in Firing Line

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Sarles Puts Employee Pensions in Firing Line

The current contract negotiations are going to be extremely interesting.

Maybe Sarles could make a goodwill gesture and take a slice off his $350,000 a year salary. Metro employees do not contribute to their pension plans.

CORRECTION:

From anonymous:

I am a current employee at WMATA and also a member of Local 2. We do contribute to our retirement account, there is no pension for Local 2, there hasn't been one since the early '90s. It is Local 689 that does not contribute to their pensions. BTW, Local 2 has approximately 700 employees in it.

Local 689's last contract has been settled through arbitration, and their cost of living increases and salary increases have been awarded. Local 2's contract is still being fought by Metro, which, by the way, asks for exactly the same cost of living increases and salary increases as 689's. Local 2 employees have not had any cost of living increases since 2008.

090412Message to Employees

Comments (43)

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+7 Vote up Vote down

guest · 655 weeks ago

Blame it on the stock market! LOL

I've seen it all now.

It's never Metro's fault. So much waste.

+9 Vote up Vote down

anon · 655 weeks ago

Don't forget that Metro's #2 David Kubicek gets a housing allowance in addition to a fat salary!

6 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

Vienna Bound · 655 weeks ago

What?! Why?

+8 Vote up Vote down

Jason · 655 weeks ago

Because f*ck you, that's why. Why do you think they hide information about delays from being invisible until after you've gone through the faregate?

0 Vote up Vote down

Vienna Bound · 655 weeks ago

Insulting me with foul language is not necessary. It was a legitimate question. Why does a Metro executive need a housing allowance?

+5 Vote up Vote down

Jason · 655 weeks ago

The first sentence of my comment was meant to be saying what Metro's response would amount to if they actually gave one, not my own feelings towards you.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 655 weeks ago

Look at the number of managers at each Bus and Rail Division and cut their salaries too! The waste is ridiculous!

I have been saying a 3% across the board cut is in line.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 655 weeks ago

Whow does number 2 work for?!!

-12 Vote up Vote down

knows metro · 655 weeks ago

If they require contributions, you're going to see a lot of veteran (skilled) Metro employees flooding out the door.

No one left will know the business side of a screwdriver or speak English.

4 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+15 Vote up Vote down

16 cents · 655 weeks ago

I disagree. The amount that they will have to contribute individually will not be too significant in the grand scheme of things. WMATA workers not only have amazing benefits, they also have great pay. It's not like Federal workers who have great benefits, but not so great pay. If they contribute more to benefits, they are still left with great pay.

+10 Vote up Vote down

Rory · 655 weeks ago

Federal benefits ain't what they used to be, although job security is still there. (too much job security!)

But yes, I agree. Where are these guys gonna go??

+11 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 655 weeks ago

They're skilled at figuring out how to get away with doing the least amount of work. And from what I hear coming over the intercoms every day, they DON'T speak English very well.

The "veterans" who've learned to take that job for granted can let the door hit them in the ass. How about hiring one of the millions of Americans who would love the chance to work hard, contribute to their own pensions and consider it a good deal?

Maybe those screwdrivers won't be gathering so much dust.

+4 Vote up Vote down

lkdjs · 655 weeks ago

So, in other words, the employees who let the system go to shit by faking order completion records will no longer suck out a fat paycheck and new hires willing to actually work will be paid a lot less to actually do work? Thanks for the info!

+14 Vote up Vote down

Jackie Jeter · 655 weeks ago

Once we fire all the white people, this will reduce some payroll costs. But if you think we're going to contribute to our own well being and pension, apparently you believe in slavery.

4 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+10 Vote up Vote down

TMS · 655 weeks ago

Metro is the only organization I've ever heard of where employees don't contribute to their own retirement plan. Every federal worker pays into his/her own retirement AND contributes to a Thrift Savings Plan, similar to 401(K). Expecting someone else to pay for your own welfare in retirement is fiscally irresponsible and typical of the culture you represent.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Woo · 655 weeks ago

There was a similar case with firefighters in San Francisco recently, if I recall correctly. It's under debate at the moment.

+5 Vote up Vote down

wondering · 655 weeks ago

Are there any 689 white employees?

+3 Vote up Vote down

bet · 655 weeks ago

Uhh, lets state for the record, "... the whites are only in maintenance and some left downtown". It is just a matter of time. All of EEO downtown is black and there may be 2 left on metro rail and 5 on metro bus. "Whites not Allowed" is the rule at metro lately.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Vienna Bound · 655 weeks ago

Off topic question: anyone know why there were delays on the Orange line going into DC from Vienna? I was on a train with a barely functioning PA system. Every third word was audible. Something was downed between EFC and Ballston and caused delays along the track? Between EFC and Ballston the train hustled along at about 5mph and stopped several times. Never got an email alert except about single tracking at Stadium Armory.

3 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

PeeWee · 655 weeks ago

You'll probably want to get a Twitter account and follow unsuck and fixwmata. That's the only way to know what's going on--IF you have a smart phone and IF you're not stranded in a tunnel w/o a signal.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@FixWMATA · 655 weeks ago

WMATA tweeted that it was a signal problem near EFC.

0 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 655 weeks ago

Welcome to Rush- !!!

+3 Vote up Vote down

Nelzon Muntz · 655 weeks ago

*Points* Laughs* AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA.

I mean Metro shows its scumbag colors yet again: but does anyone feel sorry for these jerk employees?

+12 Vote up Vote down

@WMATARage · 655 weeks ago

See, the problem with blaming pensions, benefits, and employee pay for all of WMATA's shortcomings is that it brings us to a lowest common denominator. Sort of a "Well, *I* don't have it that good, so clearly they don't deserve to have good wages/retirement plans" sentiment.

But that's the exact opposite of the attitude we should have: why can't EVERYONE make a decent living for an honest day's work? Imagine if minimum wage went up by a few dollars, or was even doubled - I'd like to see what kind of WMATA funding that taxbase would allow for.

7 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+16 Vote up Vote down

Steve · 655 weeks ago

Thank you, seriously.

This country used to have extremely solid defined-benefit pensions for most workers. You went to work, stayed at your job, and knew you would get a pension when you retired (and often didn't contribute anything). Now, having defined-benefit is rare - most people get a lame 401k, subject to the swings of the stock market.

The few defined benefit plans that are left are often in public sector jobs, which are not subject to cost cutting like the private sector. For the past 30 years the private sector has been chopping off defined benefit plans in favor of 401k's and the like (woohoo! 5% matching!). All of this money has been funneled to the top so CEO's can get their $100 million annual salaries.

We don't need this race to the bottom.

+19 Vote up Vote down

ncc · 655 weeks ago

we're pissed off because they're quite obviously not doing an honest day's work

+8 Vote up Vote down

@WMATARage · 655 weeks ago

And that's a totally fair point. But to blame pensions rather than employees seems counterproductive (though I don't know what the solution is either).

+2 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 655 weeks ago

Hey ncc --- that is because these folks supervisors are mostly all black and have Union Pension Plans themselves. Supervisors can pick which retirement they want.

0 Vote up Vote down

Hal · 655 weeks ago

What?! Every time I said this I was down-voted into oblivion.

+9 Vote up Vote down

lkdjs · 655 weeks ago

I want to feel this way, I've always been a person who has labor's side, but metro has jaded me a bit. I mean really, walk through any station and see how many people are barely functioning in a job related capacity. Even when they are physically moving or speaking it's half assed and likely incorrect. It's almost a given there will be four employees standing around while one is actually doing something. There's probably at least one dead weight to every employee who earns his/her paycheck. Oh, and that dead weight is working overtime.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Chris · 655 weeks ago

100% agree. At White Flint last night, there were about 20 employees around (they're doing rehab on the platform tiles, I suppose). None of them were doing anything but standing there. Okay, well, three of them were outside smoking. Maybe I caught them at a bad time. But, judging by the fact that the platform at White Flint has been torn up for 2 years ("torn up" as in getting work done on it-- the SAME work, mind you. Not multiple projects over time. It's the SAME project they've been doing for 2 years. To lay some new tile. Seriously.), I'm guessing something's not getting done.

+10 Vote up Vote down

stupidraidersfan 80p · 655 weeks ago

I've never seen so many excuses in one letter. Let me address one:

He says the revenue isn't growing. But wouldn't more riders and higher fares = increased revenue?

+11 Vote up Vote down

budget buster · 655 weeks ago

Metro is looking to save money yet installing useless LCDs in all the stations??

Give me a break.

Fire Sarles. He sucks.

+3 Vote up Vote down

M. Saheed Al-Stessel · 655 weeks ago

There are no budget shortfalls. No overcompensation. Infidels!

+12 Vote up Vote down

crazy · 655 weeks ago

We're facing unprecedented demand for our product and that looks to continue for years and years to come. Yet we are losing money.

WMATA. Math.

+7 Vote up Vote down

DSteller · 655 weeks ago

WMATA does not provide pension except 689 union workers. The letter is full of BS!!!! Yes, 689 workers are overpaid. How about those fat managers? They are messing up WMATA and your money. WMATA does not have capacity problem, they are just incompetent. The increased revenue are used to hire and promot incompetent people. This is why WMATA is getting bigger and bigger, but the service is getting worse and worse.

+11 Vote up Vote down

Insider · 655 weeks ago

The GM recently bragged to the board the he'd hired over 800 new employees. Many of those are woefully under qualified to be station managers much less work on the line.

Metro is a jobs program with just enough skilled people to keep it from totally breaking down. As you can see, we even have a hard time maintaining that level of service.

2 replies · active 655 weeks ago

+6 Vote up Vote down

lkdjs · 655 weeks ago

What do you expect when all their low/middle managers were promoted because they knew someone?

+4 Vote up Vote down

Tottym24 · 655 weeks ago

Agreed lkdjs-
Like the Husband and Wife teams that work at wmata and both are Superintendents and there are the sons and daughters promoted. How about Semper-Scott who took a Leave of Absence and got her doctorate now runs ODEV. The whites are not in ODEV any longer.

+12 Vote up Vote down

former employee · 655 weeks ago

Some, not all, older workers.. senority feel they earn right to come and do nothing. They tell the union superviosrs let the young ones do that job. Many have work station that look like a studio apt. Fridge, stove, microwave, tv and a comfortable chair that Metro paid for chained and lock. And most who don't want to work can push paper for years and not pick up or have a damn tool Spend the tool allowance $230.00 a year on personal use and get OT lots of it because of the CBA says that Metro must go by senority The union superviosr has to go down the list in order to pick the best qualified person to work and that usually falls on the mid to low senority person while the high senority can work OT pushing paper. OT spending on this kind of shit is mind blowing not to mention the low moral it breeds among the young senority workers.