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Action Planning

What is the future of Bargaining Unit seniority at?
UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY

2010
Future Search Conference Agenda

Conference Staff: Drusilla Copeland and Bengt Lindstrom

Welcome to all by John Inglish: People who participate in this process
will lead to the future of the pubic transit system here in Salt Lake.

Steve Booth encouraged the group to involve themselves and enjoy participating in this future search process.

Opening the Conference: Circle of introductions took place around the room.

Conference Overview and Procedures:

Most important principle is to bring in all stakeholders and common issues, common ground, and self-management to help you to focus on the future

Ground Rules
  • All ideas are valid
  • Everything is written o flip charts
  • Listen to each other
  • Observe time frames
  • Seek common ground
  • Differences and problems are acknowledged not worked
Agenda:
Focus on the Past:
Highlights and milestones
Goal: Appreciate our history, trends, we have experienced. What the past means to us

1. Artifacts and Icons: In stakeholder groups, go around the circle and introduce yourself and share your symbolic taken representing what is influencing the future of Bargaining Unit Seniority right now.

Group Assignments:

Group 1: Look at the Personal timeline across all eras:
  • Tell us the story about the people in this room
  • What meaning do you find here? What are the trends and events?
  • What is there about us that has implications for the future of Bargaining Unit Seniority?

Personal
  • In the beginning, there was diversity, growth and development
  • UTA was in its infancy along wit many of the employees
    • Trends
      Birth
      Marriages
      Children
      Commitment
      Graduation
      Houses
      Carreer
  • Investment of time, effort, dedication, change and growth.
  • We all have a commitment of personnel change and growth of life and UTA
Group 2: Look at the World timeline across all eras:
  • Tell us the story about the recent history of the world as we in this room
    experienced it.
  • What events in the wider world have shaped who we are today?
  • Which events have implications for the future of Bargaining Unit Seniority?

The World

1974 – 1983: The world was in chaos.
  • Wars were rampant – technology boom
  • Money was in short supply
  • Morals were changing
1984 – 1993: More freedom because of previous wars & chaos – more advanced technology
  • More open society in Russia – Berlin Wall falls
1994 – Present: More tragedies – more war
  • Oklahoma bombing – Terrorist attacks (9/11)
  • Technology grows – Viruses – Olympics
  • Salt Lake Tornado
How has this shaped us today?
  • Increased homeland security
  • Increased deficit
  • Caused division in country
  • Increased our awareness..
    • In budgeting, money matters
    • Our surroundings
  • Energy crisis – increased fuel costs

Future of Bargaining Unit Seniority?

Continued growth at UTA creates larger work force and diversity which has
lead to seniority questions.

Group 3: Look at Utah Transit Authority timeline across all eras:
Tell us the story about the real history of Utah Transit Authority
What meaning do you find here?
Which events have shaped the Bargaining Unit?
What is there about us that has implications for the future of Bargaining Unit
Seniority?

Presenter James Thorsen: Began a bit more adversarial, but now more cohesive company.
itle bit of rift between light rail and bus, and this is why this conference is being held.

UTA timeline:
Rocky beginning with little money
One facility, tight knit group (happy family)
Inventing what UTA was/is
Expansion, new facilities, company personality changes
1974 - Central Division/Ogden
1977 - 4th South
1981 – Meadowbrook
1984 -Provo/Timp

1985 1984 – Flextrans
1995 – Riverside
1997 – TRAX Lovendahl
  • CDL regulations in effect in 1984 (no more KozyKorner!
  • 1986 – system of the year award
  • 1980’s – focus building of business, facilities equipment, less focus on employees
  • 1990’s -UTA becomes broader transit authority by adding light rail
  • VIP persons more focus on employees
  • 2000 – referendum passes – joint effort to obtain the goal gives UTA nationwide
    recognition
  • Economy slumps
  • Light rail expands
  • Company reorganizes into Business Units
Group 4: Look at the Personal timeline across all eras:
  • Tell us the story about the people in this room
  • What meaning do you find here? What are the trends and events?
OUR STORY
UTA is people with common goals!
  • What we share in common is greater than our differences.
  • We have common needs and experiences
  • As UTA Business Unit employees Seniority affects all of our life experiences
  • It affects our ability to move through and progress in our lives
Group 5: Look at the World timeline across all eras:

  • Tell us the story about the recent history of the world as we in this room
    experienced it
  • What events in the wider world have shaped who we are today?
  • Which events have implications for the future of Bargaining Unit Seniority?
The World
  • Technology based economy (cell phones, PC’s, internet)
  • Evolving technology (evolving)
  • Computer revolution
  • Disasters
  • World conflicts
  • Chaos
  • Wars
  • Terrorism – 9/11/2001 – Wake up call, brought people together
  • Controversy
  • Olympics (UTA got great worldwide publicity)
    Economy (inflation, up, down, up, down)
  • It all affects UTA and its employees and customers, its funding, operations, etc.
    Seniority -.. hiring, retiring, people leaving UTA, lay-offs
Group 6: Look at Utah Transit Authority time line across all eras:
  • Tell us the story about the recent history of Utah Transit Authority
  • What meaning do you find here?
  • Which events have shaped the Bargaining Unit?
UTA timeline
  • Growth has required change, moving from a confrontational era to communication
    results
  • Business Unit reorganization
    Computer system: TOPS
  • Change in upper management from Pingry to Inglish
  • Change to a positive attitude
  • Business Unit: UTA needs to act as a team unit
  • Open line of communication
UTA events
  • 1974 UTA begins
  • Strike
  • TRAX begins
  • Sales tax increase. Year – 2000 - Brought about by a group effort
  • BU Reorganization – a year later L.A. followed
  • TOPS
  • Building, buses, people: change of
  • In focus
  • Change in General Manager
Group 7: Look at the Personal and the Utah Transit Authority timelines across all eras:
  • What patterns and trends do you see between the timelines?
  • How have events in each timeline influenced other timelines?
Personal:
Beginnings: Growth: Fruits:
High school More kids Kids married
College Divorce Grandkids
Marriage Buying homes Career
Missions Finish school
Kids Start school


UTA:
“UTA” begins Utah County Maintenance Apprentice
400 So garage Tooele Olympics
Sales tax flextrans TRAx – line #2 & #3
10 cent fare Meadowbrook VIP
Strike Mt Ogden APTA Roadeo
Lockout Ski Service Sales tax 1
Bus breakdowns BYU Flyer Pension
Standard trans Pingree Reorganization
Pingree Inglish PPM
Moffit Transit Awards
Inglish GM

Group 8: Look at the World and the Utah Transit Authority timelines across al eras:
  • What patterns and trends do you see between the timelines?
  • How have events in each timeline influenced other timelines?
World and UTA:
  1. Different President
    Mass transit funding
    Drug screening
  2. World disasters (9/11 – gulf wars)
    Oil and gas prices
    Freedom and security
  3. Big events (aids: cells phones, GPS)
    Technological advances
    Employment (changes, opportunity)
  4. Trials
    Watergate
    Clinton’s impeachment
  5. Labor strifes
    Solidarity movement
    Air traffic control
World:
  1. Different era’s of presidents
  2. Different wars and disasters (9/11)
  3. Big events (Berlin Wall) (Civilians on spaceships)
    • Historical events
      i. Bill and Monica Lewinski
      ii. Computer advancement
      iii. Oil crisis
      iv. OPEC
      v. Electronic (technological advancements)
      vi. Aids
  4. Trials
    O.J.
    Watergate
    Rodney King
  5. Labor strifes (solidarity)
UTA:
  1. ACT transit
  2. Olympics – starting University line
  3. Starting TRAX
  4. Leadership changes
  5. Strike and lockouts (Dirty Dozen)
  6. Drug testing
  7. Hire dates
  8. Antique Bus (2015)
  9. Reorganization of Business Units
Group 9: Look at the Personal, the World and the Utah Transit Authority timelines across all eras:
  • Tell us the stories about us the people in this room
  • What patterns and trends do you see between the timelines?
  • How have events in each timeline influenced other timelines?
Personal
1974 – 1983 – People were just getting started
  • Starting families
  • Graduating from school
  • Starting careers (UTA)
  • Stress in lives
1984 – 1993
  • Raising families
  • Buying homes
  • Divorce (UTA?)
  • People spent time in the war zone
1994 – Present
  • More of the same
World
  1. Events of the world hae changed the way we live and interact with one another
    • 911
    • Desert Storm
    • Internet – technology – MTV – Digital
    • Berlin Wall falls
    • Arms race
    • Bill and Monica (Perception of Politicians)
    • Fall of the USSR
    • Terrorism hits U.S. – So:L (WTC)
    • War in Iraq
UTA
  1. Events in an everchanging work environment
    • The way we communicate
    • Management structure
    • Policy changes (accidents, etc)
    • Lock outs – Strikes
    • Timp division
    • Flextrans
    • TRAX
    • The Olyjics
    • Stress Management
    • Apprentice Program
    • Ability to transfer within the company
    • ARD’s Canyon Parties
    • 3 aces – shoot-out
  2. Individually list significant memorable personal, world and Utah Transit Authority events that represent to you notable milestones and/or turning points on the following worksheets in the appropriate timeframes on the relevant timelines.

©  Utah Transit Authority  2001