News
News impacting public employee union members

The first of 13 Mechanics Training programs rolled out in ODOT Dist. 8 in Lebanon

Mechanic trainings roll out in ODOT districts

Aug. 18, 2010 - The first of 13 Ohio Department of Transportation mechanic training courses rolled out on Aug. 10 in ODOT Dists. 3 and 8. The courses for ODOT mechanics and auto body workers will be offered from now until June 2011.

The first two-day course focused on navigating the Office of Equipment Management website and its resources, including training manuals for the equipment these employees work with every day.

This is the first training of its kind in several years, despite the nature of their work, which changes rapidly due to technological advances. Both labor and management worked for over a year on developing a plan and curriculum.

“We’re helping them use the virtual tools that are there for them,” said Ron Sharpe, a bargaining unit Automotive Technician who trained employees in Lebanon’s Dist. 8 office.

“Mechanics’ jobs are changing due to technology faster than any other jobs at ODOT,” said ODOT Assembly President Willa O’Neill, a union representative on the L/M Mechanics Training Committee. “We don’t want to see those jobs privatized. We want to keep our people up to industry standards so nobody out there can threaten to take their jobs.”

“We want the best for our folks, and ODOT has made that commitment to them,” said O’Neill.

As a result of these trainings, two internal training bargaining unit positions are being created. The position descriptions for the internal trainers are currently being developed with both labor and management input.

See Related

OCSEA News