AC Transit is getting on my nerves... (Local rant)

I have a question for all my local peeps..

Now if a bunch of workers don't show up to work impacting business on a daily basis due to a conract dispute, is that not a strike? It sure da bump sounds like one to me..

Now, I support the struggle AC Transit drivers are going thru. Their management team has basically chopped and screwed with both their employees and the public for quite a while. Changing routes, cutting lines and bus routes, raising fares, buying busses from foreign manufacturers that people hate because of their features (not to mention the escalated cost), I get it. I do. But really, exactly what type of support can you really count on from the public if your calling in sick on a consistent basis, all the while pretending your not "on strike"?

You are effectlively working against yourselves. Your playing into the same game established by management. People are stuck for hours on occasion because many drivers simply are not coming to work. Don't even get me started on the late night service, where I personally have been stuck for hours in the city because there was no service for hours, and of course no train back-up (like any other major metropolis with sense should have running 24 hours, but thats another post for another day). Ignoring the issue is insulting, which is exactly what union leaders are doing. Even AFTER the imposed contract has been thrown out and everyone is to return to the bargaining table, the fact that over 100 drivers still continue to call out does nothing more them make the general public, like myself, look at you all sideways.

Everyone needs to cut the shit, get in a room, sit down and hash it out. AC Transit management needs to quit with the "we have no money" nonsense and make cuts starting from the top. How many people do you need at the corporate offices? How many white collar jobs are overlapping? How many high dollar salaries can be cut to offset the budget? Hey, did it occur to anyone that if you fixed the bus lines, cut the one transfer use bs and made getting around a much simpler process, like it USED to be, the agency would actually make money? Seriously, it can be done!

You can tell when a transit agency is run by people that don't actually ride transit. Its like visiting a restaurant, placing your order, and them watching the staff come in a side door with take-out from down the street (true story).

Of course, it would also be nice if we had local leaders step in and try to get the two sides together as well. But interestingly, there has been nothing but silence. I have yet to see any local pols say a word. Mayor? Of course not. Supes? Nope. Candidates even? Sigh...

So I guess there is nothing left to do but wait. And wait. And see. It will be curious to see how bad things get before something is actually done about any of this. In the meantime, I guess i'll be one of the soon to be saddled with car insurance, high tolls and outrageous gas prices. Not to mention the parking fees everywhere.

Just can't win for loosing.