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SFMTA reports staffing vacancies under AB 2561; three bargaining units exceed 20%
Summary
Under AB 2561 reporting requirements, SFMTA told the board it has roughly 500 funded FTE vacancies (more than 800 when project-funded positions are included) and identified three bargaining units above 20% vacancy rate; staff outlined hiring, recruitment and retention measures and committed to additional follow-up reporting.
SFMTA's human resources director briefed the board on state-required AB 2561 vacancy reporting and the agency's ongoing hiring challenges, identifying staffing shortfalls and steps underway to recruit and retain employees.
Kimberly Ackerman told the board AB 2561, effective Jan. 1, 2025, requires public agencies to report vacancy levels by bargaining unit and to highlight units with vacancy rates of 20% or more. Using data effective June 18, 2025, Ackerman said the agency reported approximately 500 funded full-time equivalent vacancies for the AB 2561 analysis (a slide footnote noted an agency total exceeding 800 vacancies when project-funded positions are included).
Ackerman said three bargaining units exceeded the 20% vacancy threshold on the reporting date: Transit Fare Inspectors (TFIs, 250A) at about 28% (she said the agency is hiring 12 TFIs who are expected to start in September–October and that rate should decline), Station Engineers (Local 39) and several Teamster classifications. The presentation described recruitment and retention efforts including pipeline programs, internship cohorts, redesigned operator hiring (shortened time-to-hire and classes every five weeks), onboarding improvements, and employee supports such as expanded EAP sessions and attendance/recognition incentives.
Directors asked for more granular data distinguishing 'true' vacancies from roles with active recruitments or trainees, and for clarity about the 500 positions removed from the budget and the process to add positions back (Ackerman and Director Wise said deleted positions would be revisited through the agency budget process). Staff committed to return with more detailed vacancy-pipeline metrics and said they will report again under AB 2561 prior to finalizing the FY 2026 budget.
No board action resulted; the presentation fulfilled the AB 2561 public-reporting requirement.
