MARTIN COUNTY — Public transit woes here may be easing, but were worse than initially reported, according to the union representing transit workers.
Problems started July 1 when Martin County Transit LLC took over operation of MARTY — the county’s public transit system. Problems included bus breakdowns, a lack of bike racks and a hiring dispute, according to the Amalgamated Transit Union, Martin County, and Senior Resource Association, which now operates Martin County Transit.
But at least part of the slide may be over.
Senior Resource Association and Martin County Transit obtained insurance on the MARTY fleet July 23, allowing it to put its own buses back on its routes, SRA President and CEO Karen Deigl said.
And early July 24, Deigl said, everything was running smoothly.
Problems
Martin County Transit used alternate buses instead of MARTY buses until July 24, according to SRA. The buses were branded differently while some were smaller and may have had no rack to transport a bicycle like MARTY buses.
Riders suffered confusion initially, Deigl said, because buses on MARTY routes had different names like Senior Resource, Community Coach and Indiantown Shuttle.
Drivers of the smaller buses reportedly left people behind because the bus was too small for everyone, a claim Martin County and Senior Resource Association deny. Rider Antonio Gamboa complained about the lack of a bicycle rack, which many riders use.
Insurance obtained
Martin County Transit used alternate buses, four of which broke down, because it had yet to get insurance for MARTY buses, according to SRA.
But, Deigl said, Martin County Transit had to wait to get insurance until it took over operation of MARTY. Obtaining insurance for commercial transportation is different, Deigl said, than obtaining car insurance.
Senior Resource Association also operates the GoLine, Indian River County’s public transit system, and has for years. Martin County this year is paying SRA $2 million to operate MARTY, and has a three-year contract, Deigl said.
Employee issues
Martin County Transit hired at least 23 of 28 MARTY workers when it assumed operations from MTM Transit, which operated the system up until July 1. But a disagreement has arisen about four or five others.
Five Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1577 workers were either dismissed or displaced initially when Martin County Transit took over, Dan Smith, general counsel for the union, said in a July 8 letter to Martin County officials and Senior Resource Association.
Three previous employees were dismissed because they failed to pass a background check that was allegedly more stringent than was required by Martin County Transit’s bid for MARTY’s contract, according to Smith’s letter and Joey Acevedo, union president and business agent.
Two were drivers and one was a dispatcher, according to the letter. A lifetime background check was performed, Acevedo alleges, instead of a more limited check.
The three employees were required to meet pre-employment requirements, according to Martin County and SRA.
“We notified these three employees of their right to seek an exemption from these requirements. However, none of them did so,” an email from the county and SRA said.
A fourth employee, also a driver, was dismissed “based on her employment record” at MTM Transit, “despite not being subject to serious discipline,” Smith’s letter said.
And a mechanic was initially displaced from his job because Martin County, rather than Martin County Transit, is maintaining MARTY buses, Acevedo said. However, he now may be hired, Acevedo said days later.
“Martin County Transit disagrees with the allegations made in the union’s letter,” Deigl said July 23. “However, we are refraining from making further public comment at this time, as both sides are working together on an amicable path forward.”
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: MARTY system shirks greater woes, restores normal bus service July 24
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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