OC transportation costs & rates have risen steadily for the past 2 years or more. For a long time though, OC has continued to give out “free ridership” to convention attendees (including Government attendees). Same goes for school graduates. While costs have risen, OC has not adjusted bus driver compensation for about 7 years. We have seen “family day” at Jolly Roger and employee appreciation days at Seacrets slowly die away. There have been no job actions threatened or anything else by the resort workforce related to this or any other. In other words, we just come back to do what is needed year after year. There has been a recent interest in pointing the big finger of fiscal blame by the Town to these (long faithful) employees WHO ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOWN'S FISCAL WOES.
In the past, OC has enjoyed cheap labor using visiting workers on visas by not having to compensate for ANY taxes when considering an unemployed (tax paying) citizen. So far though, only a few have been considered for Transportation. The visitors have NO licenses so they can’t drive. There have been experiments (Tram cashiers/conductors) but passenger injury rates have gone up as a result. Cleaning jobs continue to accept some of them. Most recently though our attention is being directed to the Town’s inability to hire qualified Bus drivers and perhaps the need to LOWER the necessary qualifications. Their reasoning is that NOBODY WANTS THE JOB. When the foreign deluge of boardwalk workers over Americans came about, the talking points were the same. American workers are available to do the job. The Town continues trying not to use them.
I can tell you from personal experience that most of this recent publicity is pure BULL. I have educational qualifications far beyond the needs of a bus driver and certainly more life qualifications. Many of the drivers BEG for 5 days of work per week yet the Town cuts their hours (and mine) mid season to 4 or less. Cant’ find drivers? Try asking someone who is capable of recruiting from within their very own workforce. Need a driver (working only 3-4 days) to work 5, ask of the employees the town already has.
All Seasonal (not just Transportation employees) return every year to continue their dedicated service. At this time, they are advised “Don’t bother unless we invite you in writing”. Just what “standards” does OC need to change to have them come back? There doesn’t appear that they even have any standards that they are answerable to and their management skills come from the Chicken processing industry, real estate brokers, to independent home improvement contractors.
I have listened to a Transportation supervisor giving instruction (both gender) to employees over an open radio that they are taking too long to use the bathroom. I have heard them instructing drivers to ignore public scrutiny from media that was not pre-approved by management. I have seen (former veteran) drivers being instructed NOT to wear a hat that reflected their former service but to purchase an OC hat from OC instead.
The recent attack on OC's own long term seasonal workforce seem unjustified and unfair. They need to look to themselves rather than housekeeping, transportation, public safety, and many other faithful employees who have not struck “deals” in dealing with organized union employees who aren’t even asking for a union relationship. The Firemen and Police saw this coming a long time ago and they are now unionized and “protected”. The remaining silent workforce doesn’t want Unions in their lives. We simply want to be treated fairly, with respect, and have work. Ocean City, please treat us that way.
Publishers Notes: The above Letter to the Editor is in response to the story provided by the Coastal Dispatch HERE.
3 comments:
If the government required the same taxes be withheld even if they are not residents, the cost to the employer would be the same - incentive gone...meanwhile, the government gets more taxes than it forks out in benefits....
"If the government required the same taxes be withheld even if they are not residents, the cost to the employer would be the same "
But they don't so what's your point?
Be it known that employers are paid $1000 or more in bonus if they give the visa people full time employment. I know that as a matter of fact from one downtown OC business. I don't think this was the point the writer was trying to make though.
The Town is trying to make a case of not being able to recruit drivers when it's more an issue of not trying to retain current employees.
Maybe OC has more of an issue with the age of their current emloyees. That borders on age descrination.
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