News

Moving Forward with Bus Operator Mentor Training

Posted April 2024

Over forty bus operator mentors were in attendance for mentor training at King County Metro in Seattle, where training was co-facilitated by TWC’s Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard and ATU’s International Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson. This was the initial mentor training for the Mentors Moving Forward program, a peer-to-peer mentor program jointly run by King County Metro and ATU Local 587, which pairs newly hired bus operators with experienced drivers. 



The four-hour mentor training took place at the ATU Local 587 union hall, beginning with opening remarks from King County Metro’s General Manager Michelle Allison and ATU Local 587’s President Kenneth Price. Both individuals expressed an optimistic outlook for the success of this program after nearly a year of planning. Several veteran operators spoke of the partnership between Local 587 and King County Metro working together to make improvements for the future of the agency and the frontline workforce.