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Operator wages, safety and contract transparency raised in public comment
Summary
At the April 1 Kitsap Transit meeting a transit operator and union representative pressed the board on slow wage progression for new hires, concerns about exposure to biohazards when operators are not warned, and frustration over closed contract negotiations that limit the union’s ability to inform members about bargaining positions.
During public comment at the April 1 meeting a Kitsap Transit operator urged the board to address pay progression, workplace safety and transparency in contract negotiations.
Speaker John Eckert, identified himself as a long‑term transit worker, said operators sometimes wait years to reach top pay and that recent hires face cost‑of‑living pressures in Kitsap County’s tight housing market. He told the board: “Can you even imagine what it's like to be a new hire and have to wait...to get top pay unless you have long term operators?”
Eckert also raised safety concerns about vehicle cleanliness and operator exposure. He recounted an incident in which a substitute driver was sent a bus containing an unresolved biohazard without warning and without personal protective equipment, saying, “She wasn't told that that's what she was taking the bus down for.”
On bargaining transparency, Eckert said negotiators’ confidential settlement materials limit the union’s ability to inform members about unacceptable terms during closed‑door sessions. He requested timely, clear updates so members understand negotiation status and outstanding issues.
John Clausen, Executive Director, acknowledged the public comments in the meeting record but did not provide an immediate operational change. The board did not take formal action during the meeting; commissioners later adjourned after directing staff to manage follow‑up.
The comments highlight staff and rider safety, labor relations and compensation as issues for the board and management to address in upcoming contract talks and operations reviews.
