“With seven managers for 46 people, the situation is absurd and counterproductive,” said Éric Poirier, President of the Union of inspectors and dispatchers (FISA).
The Union of inspectors and dispatchers, affiliated with the Independent Federation of Autonomous Unions (FISA), has raised serious concerns about management practices within the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC). According to the Union, the number of managers at RTC is disproportionate to the actual needs on the ground, directly hindering team efficiency and leading to unnecessary costs, as reported by Radio-Canada.
In a statement cited by the Journal de Québec, Éric Poirier, President of the Union, criticized an overly high management-to-employee ratio, specifying that the inspector and dispatcher sector has one manager for every six employees.
“With seven managers for 46 people, the situation is absurd and counterproductive,” he said, adding that this management structure heavily burdens finances without improving the service offered to users.
A significant increase in managers
As highlighted in an article by Le Soleil, the number of administrative managers at RTC has risen from 110 to 152 in four years, representing a 38% increase, while the general staff grew by only 2% over the same period. This imbalance has drawn criticism from the Union and FISA, who view this situation as particularly troubling since it undermines the morale of field employees.
“Meeting Overload” at the expense of employees
Éric Poirier also condemned the frequency of meetings among managers, describing it as a form of “meeting overload” that limits their availability to support field teams.
“When employees are on the ground and need to talk to their manager, they are often [in a meeting] and [the employees feel they] are interrupting them,” he explained. According to the Union, this lack of direct support reduces team motivation and hinders their efficiency.
A call for more effective management
The Union of Inspectors and Dispatchers, along with FISA, believes it is crucial for RTC to review its management structure to reduce the number of managers and focus resources on operational needs.
By placing greater emphasis on field employees, RTC could not only lower costs but also enhance the responsiveness and efficiency of the services it provides to Quebec City residents.
The issue has also been discussed on FM93 and Radio X.
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