OC Transpo is ramping up recruitment efforts to fill staffing gaps as shortages of available bus operators and rail controllers are “directly tied” to unreliable bus service and unplanned rail shutdowns in recent months.
Staff Stabilization Plan
Senior staff outlined a year-long staff stabilization plan that is targeting a 105 per cent staffing level to account for the existing job vacancy rate, natural attrition, projected retirements and new trainees either failing or voluntarily withdrawing from OC Transpo’s training program. The increased staffing will also assist with the LRT east and west extensions.
OC Transpo chief safety officer Sabrina Pasian told the transit committee on June 11 that approximately 20 to 30 per cent of recruits fail or withdraw from the training program. The lengthy training program can last from 27 to 300 days depending on the position and involves practical training, testing and evaluation. The recruitment phase usually spans 102 to 151 days, Pasian said.
Recruitment Targets
The transit authority is hoping to recruit 372 trainees as potential bus operators to add to its current fleet of 1,507 drivers. It is targeting 48 electric rail operator trainees for Line 1 and 37 diesel operator trainees for Lines 2 and 4, along with a target of 25 controllers to oversee rail operations from the control centre.
OC Transpo currently employs 110 electric rail operators, 59 diesel operators, 16 electric rail controllers and 16 diesel rail controllers. It is also looking to ramp up recruiting for mechanics, garage attendants and special constables.
Impact on Service
Pasian acknowledged that recent staffing “challenges” with front-line bus and train operators and rail controllers “required unplanned temporary service adjustments (and) have led to service that at times can be unpredictable.”
A partial shutdown of the O-Train’s Line 4 over the Victoria Day long weekend was attributed to staff shortages. A temporary shutdown of the east-west Line 1 several hours later was blamed on a shortage of available controllers at OC Transpo’s control centre on Belfast Road, “primarily due to illness,” according to a memo to council from OC Transpo general manager Rick Leary.
Reducing Overtime Reliance
“As a temporary mitigation measure to address the staffing gaps, we’ve been heavily relying on overtime, but this is not sustainable,” Pasian told the committee this week. “We are tracking overtime very closely, and once this plan is achieved, the reliance on overtime will lessen.”
The recruitment campaign is expected to bring OC Transpo “much closer to achieving the required staffing levels that we need to ensure safe, consistent operations, while reducing potential risks and building in long-term resiliency,” Pasian added.
“We are in the process of filling essential positions in our recruitment and training teams to be able to onboard and train new front-line staff at unprecedented numbers,” Pasian said. “This includes hiring instructors and members of our recruitment team to ensure that all training is provided consistently, meaningfully, and documented properly, and that our hiring follows all HR policies.”
