This happened before the accident but shouldn't surprise anyone...




The guy was reprimanded. However, given what happened on the Red Line (though texting doesn't appear to have been involved), it should be a one-time offense and then out the door.

A WMATA employee not taking their job seriously, now there's a first.

I have a theory that most metro employees probably couldn't get hired at K-Mart.

TheMeeper Wrote:
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> A WMATA employee not taking their job seriously,
> now there's a first.
>
> I have a theory that most metro employees probably
> couldn't get hired at K-Mart.


They have three jobs...make sure the doors don't close on people, make indecipherable announcements about upcoming station stops and hit a red button if the train fails to slow down. I guess even those duties are too hard.

No, they are also required to talk to you like a child when you ask for help, and then refuse to give it.

You guys could at least have the decency to point out ALL the things they do for us each day.

Nice. That was a direct cause of the Metrolink wreck out in Los Angeles that killed about 10 people.

My favorite experiences on the Metro are when I have five minutes until the next train rolls in, and I spend 4 1/2 minutes arguing with them over use of the public bathroom. It makes me feel special and empowered when they take those 20 steps to unlock the door and glare at me.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

RESton Peace Wrote:
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> No, they are also required to talk to you like a child when you ask for help, and then refuse to give it.


That just happened to me a few weeks ago with the fucking bitch that works the morning shift at Ballston. It seriously makes your blood boil.

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My favorite experiences on the Metro are when I
> have five minutes until the next train rolls in,
> and I spend 4 1/2 minutes arguing with them over
> use of the public bathroom. It makes me feel
> special and empowered when they take those 20
> steps to unlock the door and glare at me.


Kinda makes you want to take a shit right in the middle of the floor and leave it there.

ITRADE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MrMephisto Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My favorite experiences on the Metro are when I
> > have five minutes until the next train rolls
> in,
> > and I spend 4 1/2 minutes arguing with them
> over
> > use of the public bathroom. It makes me feel
> > special and empowered when they take those 20
> > steps to unlock the door and glare at me.
>
>
> Kinda makes you want to take a shit right in the
> middle of the floor and leave it there.

I've had to inform them that this was their other option on one or two occasions.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

That guy should have been fired.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being vague is almost as fun as that other thing.

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A WMATA employee not taking their job seriously,
> now there's a first.
>
> I have a theory that most metro employees probably
> couldn't get hired at K-Mart.


I believe you are correct, oh wise Meeper.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being vague is almost as fun as that other thing.

WashingTone Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This happened before the accident but shouldn't
> surprise anyone...
>
>
>
>
> The guy was reprimanded. However, given what
> happened on the Red Line (though texting doesn't
> appear to have been involved), it should be a
> one-time offense and then out the door.


The problem is, people dont take texting and driving seriously. Its just as dangerous (actually more dangers according to several studies) than driving drunk. A metro employee would be fired for operating while drunk wouldnt they?

And the videos keep pouring in... this one of a train operator sleeping.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Latest-Metro-Fail-Sleeping-on-the-Job.html

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And the videos keep pouring in... this one of a
> train operator sleeping.
>
> http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Latest-Met
> ro-Fail-Sleeping-on-the-Job.html


I don't think it is clear from the video that the guy is sleeping. However, he doesn't appear to be paying attention in any case.

pgens Wrote:
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> And the videos keep pouring in... this one of a train operator sleeping.


I've seen the station managers sleeping on dozens of ocassions, why shouldn't the train operators be allowed to catch some shut-eye?

Even when they are awake you have to bang on the window pretty hard sometimes to get their attention.

pgens Wrote:
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> Even when they are awake you have to bang on the window pretty hard sometimes to get their attention.


Yeah, I'd hate to pull them away from that important cell phone call they're on.

How fucking hard is that job anyway? Like what skill set is required to become a top-performing station manager? A rudimentary understanding of fare card machines and the ability to sit in a booth for long periods of time staring at monitors?

It seriously seems like a piece of cake job, makes you wonder why most of them have such a belligerent customer service attitude.

It is probably very boring, and they hear complaints all day about how this card doesn't work or that train car smelled, etc.

pgens Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is probably very boring, and they hear
> complaints all day about how this card doesn't
> work or that train car smelled, etc.

Agreed.

Keep in mind that 90% of their job probably involves dealing with Bubbas from Birmingham who have never set foot on a piece of mass transit in their lives. Then they have to explain to these Bubbas that the black strip on the card goes up and that the fare amount is printed on the card and that you need to stand to the right on the escalator and that the doors don't work like the doors at Wal-Mart and will crush you and drag your mangled torso down the platform to your horrific demise.

Speaking of Metro employees:

The Metro Police aren't exactly a top notch department. Seen a few officers that probably couldn't get a job at Landmark Mall Security.
Makes me wonder if there was ever an attack on the Metro how the Metro Police would be able to respond.

They're pretty dumb. One of them accused me of fare jumping about a month ago. I said whatever, and told him that the amount came up from my Smarttrip and it showed the deduction. He took my card and went to one of the exit targets and tapped it. It said "Stop, see station manager." He said, "Do you see that?" I said "Sure, because I exited properly and by tapping the exit target again without tapping the enter target will trigger the 'Stop' message." Undeterred, he took the card to the station manager's booth. Sure enough it showed me as having properly exited the metro system 3 minutes prior.

Moron.

WashingTone Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The guy was reprimanded. However, given what
> happened on the Red Line (though texting doesn't
> appear to have been involved), it should be a
> one-time offense and then out the door.

Supposedly the policy has been changed as of today to be just that. If you get caught texting you're gone.

The absurd thing is that the metro has been mostly automated for quite a few years now. The problem is that the metro has no money for adequate maintenance and replacement cars due to the insanely high salaries of those donkeys who "drive" the trains and select bus routes.

Some of those guys make over 100k a year to sit on their butts and say, "Next stop, Metro Center." Check out the news stories on metro pension plans, salaries, benefits, etc.