March 31, 2009

Minimizing Impact of Layoffs
With Respect and Dignity to Our Employees

Dear OCTA Fellow Employees,

Together, we face the disconcerting reality of seeing our coworkers laid off.  Unfortunately, these valued employees of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) were laid off as a result of bus service reductions mandated by the current economic crisis and the detrimental impact it has had on the overall OCTA budget. 

Throughout this difficult time, OCTA’s primary focus is to continue to treat all employees with the utmost respect and dignity being ever mindful of those employees who received termination notices. We are committed to remaining connected to our transitioning employees with the hope that we will recall many of the same employees as the service expansion need arises.

In an attempt to save as many jobs as possible, the OCTA management reached out to the two unions on several occasions in an attempt to proactively partner with them to reduce expenditures and/or increase revenues and save jobs.  OCTA requested that the labor unions forego the scheduled raises in their separate contracts.

The savings would have amounted to $4 million and would have a continued exponential savings for years to come by preserving 45 jobs.  However, neither union agreed to forego the raises.  By comparison, the OCTA administrative employees agreed to forego raises and special performance awards next fiscal year. Coupled with the hiring freeze and 100 percent vacancy policy for all attrition-related administrative positions, approximately 35 jobs have been saved.

OCTA was forced to lay off 25 coach operators, 11 service workers and six mechanics based solely on seniority on Sunday, March 29 and Monday, March 30.  Employees who were laid off, received their final paychecks at the time of the layoff notification. They were paid through April 9, but will not continue to be employed by the OCTA.

This policy allows more time for the laid-off employees to begin their transition and initiate the unemployment claims process and/or seek employment elsewhere with the hope their income would not be interrupted and the hardship on the families would be minimized. 

OCTA provided termination packages that included claims information, transition assistance information, employment options, benefits information, helpful Web sites, and a checklist that ensures the OCTA has the most current employee information to facilitate the recall process if the economy significantly recovers.

Additionally, OCTA will offer workshops in resume writing and interviewing techniques. OCTA also will provide a list of neighboring transit agencies and private transit providers that are hiring coach operators and maintenance employees.

The OCTA management wants all of our employees to know that exhaustive efforts have been undertaken to limit the loss of jobs.  We recognize that these are very difficult times. We remain committed to our workforce and will continue to provide employees with much-needed information during this budget crisis.    

Sincerely,

Patrick Gough

Executive Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development

 
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