Inflation means we took a pay cut

The 2022-2024 contract voted on in 2021 included raises that were 2.5%, 2% and 2% for each year. In normal times, people are happy with something like 3%. But, the ink was hardly dry on this contract before record inflation took off and obliterated those raises.

The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) puts out a Consumer Price Index (CPI) chart that sets the maximum Act 10 unions can bargain for in a year. (Transit workers are not subject to Act 10, but it is still a helpful metric.

For 2022, we came out 0.2% above inflation. But that ballooned, and Jan 1, 2023 the CPI-U was 7.17% — 5.17% over our 2% raise. So, in effect we took a paycut. 2024 is on track for more of that: a 2% raise with over 7% inflation is another pay cut. The cost of consumer goods rises faster than wages, so what you can buy less with the same amount of money as before. In order to stay level, we would have needed raises close to 8% for 2023 and 2024.

Is there money for that? Somehow the City has found money to bring in multiple chiefs with six figure salaries; pay tens of thousands for their moving expenses; hire ride guides and subcontracting firms for the route redesign; pay for a software overhaul; and so on. There’s money – they just don’t think its for us.

What we would need for a next contract is COLA plus 1%. Make up for the pay cut we took, and 1% on top of that.

Metro Briefs

Metro Retirees

Lawrence Collins

Ricky Kinworthy

Management updates

HR: Alissa hired as internal Metro HR manager. Oversees Fran/Ann, under Rachel Johnson

New Ops Supervisors:

Uli Hernandez, Michael Dentice

Shop :

DeAndre Newson (manager) term’d

Jack Laylan retired

Ryan Conlan hired as supervisor

No flu shots at Metro this year.
If you want one, you have to go to a pharmacy or your doctor.