WMATA Bus and Train Operators

[Anonymous]

How are some WMATA employees of Union 689 making over $150k a year. I think that is crazy. If anyone has experience with it, let me know

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how much they make, but being a bus driver is a dangerous job that requires a lot of skills that I don’t have. I hope they’re well compensated.

[Anonymous]

They are all members of a union - either 689 or 922 for bus and 689 for rail. The CBA provides for mandatory raises which have been substantial over the years and decades. There is also a lot of overtime available, much more for bus than rail.

In order to reach $150k, the employee would have to have some level of longevity and be doing a lot of overtime. It is pretty unusual to see a bus or rail operator hit $150k annually but not unheard of. Mostly it’s those who are in their high four - which are the four years used to calculate their retirement benefits. Employees tend to work a lot at their highest wage years in order to maximize retirement benefits.

These are not easy jobs, though people believe they are - especially more recently with the level of assaults on the operators and other staff. There are some unexpected physical challenges to the jobs in addition to the customer service requirements for bus operators. Also they are highly skilled jobs.

[Anonymous]

It is depressing to read here, day after day, posts from people that have no respect for people who do valuable public work. Obviously OP has never had to rely a bus to get to work.

[Anonymous]

OP are you looking for a job or just envious of your betters?