MASCOT cuts hurt those who already have less

One of the unheralded services provided in the Valley is the MASCOT commuter bus service. For a nominal fee and some willingness to stop at several spots along the way, people can get to many places in the Valley. And some people who work in Anchorage can take one of the buses to town cheaper, safer and more relaxing than driving themselves.

Now, because of financial reasons, routes have been cut, leaving some of the area’s most dependent residents stranded.

A $400,000 shortfall has crippled the popular bus service.

In the shadow of that deficit, the service laid off two mechanics, one dispatcher and six drivers.

The situation is such that the commuter service now has nearly two buses for every driver left after layoffs.

It seems grants were available to purchase four new buses last winter, but nobody came forward to help the service with money to keep drivers. In addition, nearly a dozen new buses are arriving to replace a similar number that are showing their age.

It seems a shame that so many of those new rigs will sit idle.

In the middle of this financial mess is a scrap between management and drivers over why certain drivers were laid off and others retained.

Management won’t say what the criteria was in determining who kept their jobs and who didn’t, but some of the drivers who got the ax say it was because they were going union. Management denies that assertion.

However, of the six drivers laid off, five had union cards.

How the union and the bus service come to grips with their differences is one thing. We hope they can work it out. However, until the $400,000 is found, jobs will be cut and so will routes. Not to be insensitive, but the nine people who are out of work have a chance to find another job.

People who depend on the buses to get to work, seniors who need to see a doctor, people who are handicapped, and many others in the community who can’t drive will be hurt more.

It’s true, $400,000 is a lot of money, but surely there are entities, grant writers or governments out there that can chip in to get these nine employees back to work and the new buses on the road, serving so many who need a lift.