TARTA Hits Milestone With Launch Of ATU-Endorsed Apprenticeship

The next step in TARTA’s investment in its people and its community hits the road later this month, with the graduation of the first class of operators taking part in an apprenticeship program endorsed by the International Amalgamated Transit Union.

TARTA will host a press conference and graduation ceremony from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, September 24 at the Glass City Pavilion (1001 Riverside Drive, Toledo) to celebrate the first five participants in this program. TARTA is just the 10^th transit agency in the nation to have an ATU-endorsed apprenticeship program, and the first in Ohio.

“We all know the skills that our operators bring to the job, and this allows them to build on those skills and expand on the great service they already give the passengers who depend on TARTA every day,” said Krissy Brown, President of ATU Local 697. “This investment in their future is an investment in a better connection to the community for everyone who rides.

“It’s a difficult job, and you can never be too prepared. A dynamic training program is so important, and nobody knows more about what’s included in that than the International ATU. It’s an honor to be a part of bringing this program to northwest Ohio.”

As part of the press conference, the first graduates of this program will hear from: 

• International ATU Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson
• International ATU Vice President Carly Allen, who served as a TARTA Operator for 20 years and President of ATU Local 697 for 12 years before being elected to that post
• ATU Local 697 President Krissy Brown
• Ohio State Rep. Erika White
• Members of TARTA’s leadership team

“Our partnership with the ATU at the local level has been so important in laying the foundation for a positive, productive work environment, so we’re thrilled to be able to work with the International ATU in this way,” said TARTA Chief Human Resources Officer Ursula Barrera-Richards. “It’s an honor to have an apprenticeship program endorsed by the ATU. Putting our workforce first and investing in the job satisfaction of the great team we have here continues to be a priority, and that investment has paid off in every aspect of our organization – from lower retention rates to increased customer satisfaction scores.

“When team members are well-trained and feel heard, it makes a difference in the safety and experience of every passenger. The ATU has been an amazing partner in this effort, which will raise the quality of life for so many northwest Ohioans.”

ATU apprenticeship programs are designed to go beyond standard onboarding programs, with curriculum that includes paid training for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), peer mentorship, certifications and an enhanced curriculum covering safety and de-escalation tactics.

New TARTA operators undergo 300 hours of instruction time, split between classroom training and road training. The apprenticeship program with the ATU is in addition to TARTA’s M-PACT Program, which matches new operators at TARTA with experienced operators to help guide them through the first years of their career.