Union Chief Will Boycott OCTD Excellence Brunch

The leader of the union representing the Orange County Transit District’s 700 bus drivers says she will personally boycott OCTD’s motivational Drive for Excellence program, featuring Rams Head Coach John Robinson, claiming that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Julie Smith, general chair of Tustin-based United Transportation Union Local 19, said that the one-day brunch program scheduled for March 5 at the Red Lion Inn in Costa Mesa is “an absurd expenditure” of taxpayers’ money. “I have no intention of attending and most of the drivers I’ve talked to won’t attend either,” she said.

An OCTD official strongly defended the “Drive for Excellence” program, saying that union members participated in developing it.

Smith said the expenditure for the program, which OCTD officials said is intended to help improve communication and boost morale, is an “insult” to drivers because the money would be better spent on cost-of-living adjustments in bus drivers’ paychecks.

“This is typical of OCTD,” Smith said. “They would rather spend money on fluff like this than take care of drivers’ real needs.”

Drivers currently have no cost-of-living adjustment provisions in their contract with OCTD. Talks for a new contract are at least a year away.

Claudia Keith, an OCTD public information officer, said the one-day program is expected to cost $20,000, including Robinson’s $4,000 speaking fee. She said the program will involve follow-up activities to be planned and budgeted later.

“It’s really an effort to show coach operators that we want them to be our front-line sales force with the public, and we’re willing to help them with whatever they need to be good at it.”

Keith said that only about 150 drivers had made reservations for the brunch, with another 50 to 100 expected to attend.