Service standards and bonuses
I have had the suspicion for awhile that Rescue MUNI really wants
to micromanage the running of MUNI. I always thought that one of
the secret of good management is to provide the right a balance
of authority of accountability and authority. MUNI it seems to
me suffers from this and a ballot measure which proscribes into
law and gets more into the management process gets us further
away from this. This is the problem with most government these
days - too much trying to solve problems by increasing the rules
and regulations. Simply giving a general manager more authority
and responsibility might be better than adding more commissions
and regulations. I do not know of the details of the incentive
system proposed but cannot imagine a situation where this should
be proscribed in a ballot measure.
This just looks like another case of the Rescue MUNI exec board
trying to pull over a fast one on the organization. I was the
Bay Area Transportation Forum last Saturday and was amazed at the
diversity and passion about transit in the area. Frankly Rescue
MUNI has done a terrible job of taping into this energy. Rescue
MUNI looks like a bunch of old while guys (and a few women)
trying to speak for a group of riders who are not even from the
same culture as they are.
As for the MUNI drivers. I am tired of hearing them bashed in
this forum. Perhaps some do not come to work and abuse the
contact - but just about every driver I encounter on the Metro
and buses (and I ride a lot each week) is truing to do his or her
job well. Many even go out of their way to add humor and a
personal touch to their jobs. Continually bashing them is not
the best way to encourage excellent performance. People thrive
better on recognition and it is time that we put more emphasis on
encouraging the quality work many drivers are displaying out
there.
In summary:
1. Rescue MUNI management - be open with the membership about
what you are up to.
2. Stop bashing drivers - lest start being constructive and being
part of the solution.
Richard Petersen
zpub@sirius.com
http://www.zpub.com