Metro derailed by culture of complacence, incompetence, lack of diversity

The Washington Times ^ | 27 March 2012 | Luke Rosiak

[Rummyfan]

Ninety-seven percent of the bus and train operators at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority are black, with only six white women out of more than 3,000 drivers, according to Metro documents — a lack of diversity at one of the region’s largest employers that has led to an acknowledgment of failure in affirmative-action documents and spawned a series of lawsuits.

The homogeneity, interviews with dozens of current and former Metro workers indicated, is a proxy to a clubby culture of favoritism in which merit has little to do with promotions, and accountability, such as noting safety violations, is a career death knell. In typical examples, court and Metro records show, a black man who spent eight years in prison for dealing PCP was promoted to a high-level management position soon after his release, and whites in the same positions as blacks with far less seniority are inexplicably paid less.

[Rummyfan]

It is not just that mediocrity is overlooked. Dozens of employees whom Metro rules forbid from speaking to the media said: Diligence is discouraged, because anywhere one looked was something that needed to be fixed — and change, especially when it involved work, was anathema to senior Metro line workers.

[McGavin999]

What a surprise!

[Hodar]

In typical examples, court and Metro records show, a black man who spent eight years in prison for dealing PCP was promoted to a high-level management position soon after his release, and whites in the same positions as blacks with far less seniority are inexplicably paid less.

I'm shocked ... shocked, I tell you < /sarcasm>

But, look at our quality "jouralism" again ... "and whites in the same positions as blacks with far less seniority are inexplicably paid less." Are whites with more seniority paid less, or are blacks with less seniority paid less - it's poorly written. A degree in Journalism used to mean that you knew how to tell a story - now it means you are only moderately capable of writing at a Jr. High School level.

[03A3]

Idiocracy!

[Psycho_Bunny]

When you view everything through a raciscope, all you do is create more race problems than you set out to fix.

[Amberdawn]

The late Libertarian radio host, Irv Homer, mentioned this subject during the Million Moron Man March in Washington D.C. some years ago. So many black bus drivers went to the march that the city of Philadelphia had to curtail and cancel bus service on that day, leading Homer to ask “why are there so few white bus drivers in Philadelphia”?

[sitetest]

I haven’t used Metro in years. Won’t allow anyone in my family to use it, either.

[Rummyfan]

Would use Metro in only one instance: when I would go to Capitals or Nationals games. You couldn't beat the convenience.

But it is not CHEAP nor so convenient anymore when the parking at the stations has become problematic too.

[hoosierham]

When black racists are in charge of human resources then blacks are hired and promoted regardless of work etchics;this is not MLK’s dream where color didn’t matter,but a “get even” mindset by black people.

[Rummyfan]

The second article on the Metro:

Even with big salaries, Metro can’t fill its jobs