Retirement numbers loom large on Transit horizon

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This article was published 21/11/2023 (688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Winnipeg Transit struggles to attract new bus drivers, it also faces losing many current ones to retirement.

A recruitment and retention report notes Transit employs about 1,374 unionized staff (drivers, maintenance workers, mechanics, etc.). Based on age and years of service, about 388 or 28.2 per cent are eligible to retire now. That number is on track to increase to 608 or 44.3 per cent within five years.

Transit confirmed the same portion of workers set to become eligible for retirement applies to drivers alone.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said the fact nearly half of bus drivers will be eligible to soon retire threatens to amplify an existing operator shortage.

“It’s terrifying… I was really surprised. I know that a lot of people are retiring and getting to that age from the demographics of our city, but… when I saw the numbers, I found them to be quite shocking,” Lukes said Tuesday.

The councillor noted Winnipeg Transit continues to operate with a five per cent service reduction due to the driver shortage, which has plagued the service since at least December 2022.

Transit logged an increase in sudden bus disruptions this fall, as routes were cancelled at times when the number of drivers who called in absent exceeded the number of spare staff available to fill in for them. (The issue impacted 49 individual buses over nine days between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20, up from eight over two days during the same period of 2022.)

“We’re seeing an impact now because we don’t have enough drivers. We’re (also) aiming to do a complete route realignment by June 2025 for high-frequency transit, (so) I sure hope we can find drivers for that,” said Lukes.

The councillor said she is optimistic aggressive recruiting, testing of new driver safety shields and an upcoming Transit security team (expected in the new year) will help address the shortage.

Transit began ramping up its recruitment efforts to attract more operators last year, shortening the overall recruitment process to nine weeks (from nine months).

Winnipeg Transit director Greg Ewankiw said hiring has reached “unprecedented levels,” with 130 drivers added in 2023, including some positions being filled next week.

“That’s pretty astounding and a testament to our staff to be able to do that in this (labour) environment,” said Ewankiw.

He noted many transit systems are struggling to find staff across Canada, likely in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic creating new work-from-home jobs that enticed employees to leave front-line positions.

“I think what we’re hearing is that… people are re-evaluating their careers,” said Ewankiw.

Transit has about 890 active drivers, out of a total of roughly 1,000, which falls 109 short of a full complement to provide the current service level. It would need 160-170 more to provide a full, pre-pandemic service level, Ewankiw added.

In 2023 so far, Winnipeg Transit has lost 100 bus operators to retirements, resignations and terminations, the report notes.

With so many eligible to retire in just a few years, the union that represents Transit drivers fears overtime and employee burnout could increase.

“That 44 per cent (within five years) or almost half of the workforce eligible to retire is hugely concerning given the inability of the department to attract and retain employees. It’s just going to put more of a burden on the system,” said Chris Scott, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

Scott said he feels the data should serve as a “wake-up call” the service must ramp up efforts to retain staff, such as by improving wages and benefits.

“They have to really take a look at what is the driving factor in people not choosing the City (of Winnipeg) as the employer of choice or not staying with (it).”

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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