The N-Judah Chronicles

Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to attend the MUNI Town Hall tonight!
This morning I read an interesting missive in the SF Chronicle about Yet Another Rude MUNI Driver – only this time it was not you or I , the average MUNI rider that was the victim of said MUNI Follies – now MUNI drivers are taking public time to use their PA system for partisan politics and insults!
As reported, a MUNI driver decided to attack Supervisor Chris Daly for the “crime” of riding the F-Line, and singled him out for ridicule to the other passengers. Now, whatever one feels about Mr. Daly, the fact is he is as entitled to a rudeness-free ride as the rest of us.
Thus, a MUNI driver making rude, false statements, for the entire car to hear, was simply uncalled for. It’s stupid, unprofessional, and wrong. It’d be stupid, unprofessional and wrong if the (well paid) MUNI driver did the same to any rider, be they Mayor Newsom, you, I or any other taxpayer/rider on the MUNI system. Is it too much to ask these folks to act like the professionals they claim to be? I guess so!
Supervisor Daly is lucky that he has the means to hold this bozo accountable. I just wish we as riders could get the same kind of service addressing rude, stupid, or incompetent MUNI employees as well. I don’t think it’s too much to ask well-paid public employees with large pensions to act in a civilized manner to all passengers, regardless of partisanship, race, sexual orientation, ZIP code, and the like.
I’m not holding my breath on this one though. Something tells me the some of the MUNI drivers these days don’t really care anymore, because, well they really don’t have to -and let’s face it, it’s not like the buses they have to drive are in the best of shape anymore.
This is too bad, because when you get great service from a pro operator, you realize how simple it is for people to act like a pro and everyone wins. Unfortunately the “bad apples” seem to be multiplying, as I hear similar stories from riders around the city every day.
Mr. Ford, are you listening? Unions, how about you? “Union labor” is supposed to mean the best quality workers with the highest standards. I use union businesses all the time and they seem to get it. Show us you’re better than this, gang!
UPDATE: Muni Executive Director Nate Ford spoke frankly to people at the MUNI Town Hall on 11/1 about the issue of driver courtesy, which was something of significant concern to the assembled crowd, and assured those in attendance that drivers who were rude to customers (any customers) would be investigated, as Mr. Daly requested in his situation. Most recently the union representing MUNI drivers not only defended rude, obnoxious behavior by their members, they have also taken more steps to attack Mr. Daly. Impressive!
Thus, we taxpayers have a union which works to ensure 25% of operators are not at work on any given day, now we have a union that also defends rude behavior. If they can stick it to a Supervisor, what chance do you or I have at getting good customer service? Think about that as you wait in the rain for your bus or MUNI train today.
Once again, the bad apples spoil the bunch. Unfortunately in this case, the leaders of the ATU are promoting the bad apples, and spoiling things for the good folks in their membership. The bad apples get the protection, the good folks don’t get squat out of their union leadership, and it’s the public that loses. Sad.