Oh, Muni! First you asked people to text you vandalism reports on a line that didn’t take texts, then your “Entry-Level Training Program” didn’t actually manage to train people, and now we find out that nearly 3% of your staff of operators isn’t even licensed to drive your buses and trains?
No joke! According to the Examiner, 52 of Muni’s 2,114 operators don’t have a valid license to drive a Muni vehicle.
Most of the drivers lost their license after flunking medical exams for things like blood pressure issues, while others are uncredentialed due to, the SF MTA told the Ex, DUIs and failure to renew on time.
The licenseless operators are reportedly not getting paid a salary (just benefits), but as they’re still employees, the agency says they cannot hire replacements to fill their roles.
“That leaves Muni dozens of operators short before any scheduled vacations, sick calls or unexplained absences” says the Ex.
While representatives from the Muni drivers union responded to neither the Examiner’s nor to the Appeal’s requests for comment, a rep who spoke to KRON4 broadcast news this morning asserted that this story was an attempt by SF MTA management to further undercut the union’s standing with the public.
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