HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT CAN'T FIND WORKERS - Denies Movement To Privatization

(04/07/2008)

The WV Division of Highways says it is having difficulties filling its available positions. The Charleston Gazette reports at the end of last year, 631 out of 5,197 jobs in the agency remain open - almost one out of every eight. DOT officials claim there are fewer employees because of low pay and attrition, mainly resulting from retirements. "The incremental increase in unfilled positions in the Division of Highways is alarming," said Gordon Simmons, a former state employee who is now a field organizer for the United Electrical Workers union. "We are told by workers in the garages that they are only doing core maintenance today," he said. Local highway officials say key pieces of equipment have been removed from county highway departments. The work that DOH employees used to carry out is being handled by private contractors, according to Simmons. "They are mowing weeds, picking up trash and patching potholes... But they are doing little else because they do not have the personnel to do things that were customarily done." he said. The DOH has lost some key employees, especially engineers, because of our state's rank in pay. Brent Walker, a DOT spokesman, said "I don't know why we are not having enough applications today," denying the department is gradually moving toward privatizing its work. DOH officials say the agency's districts has job openings for maintenance workers and truck drivers, but they just can't attract enough workers.

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