Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP / Getty Images
Metro Los Angeles will offer employment for its bus services yy from the train system for the first time to Hispanic candidates who do not speak, write or read English fluently .
The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), made this determination due to a driver shortage due to the COVID pandemic.
If you experience pleasure behind the wheel and consider having the skills to learn to drive a bus passenger car or one of the subway trains, this could be the job opportunity you’ve been waiting for. https://t.co/iuUVgbdgnd
— TELEMUNDO 52 (@TELEMUNDO52) April 7, 2022
One of the requirements to apply for a job at Metro, until last week, was that those interested should speak, read and write English . But now, thanks to a pilot program promoted by the Board of Supervisors, said requirement will no longer apply, so residents who only speak Spanish will have the opportunity to be hired .
“Do you know how to drive? Do you like working with people? Please apply and English would not be an impediment in this situation,” said Metro’s director of community relations, Lilian de Loza-Gutiérrez.
There are more than 100 vacancies available for Metro drivers, and legal residents or those with a work permit who speak Spanish and a little English will be considered under the “Welcome to Metro” pilot program.
Metro drivers have an average salary of $20 to $20 dollars per hour, depending on your experience.
Those interested will be trained through a partnership with Los Angeles County community organizations to pass the “Class B” driving test that is issued only in English by the Department of Motor Vehicles s of California.
Metro employees have among their benefits a retirement plan, paid vacations, medical insurance and a special bonus of up to $3,000 dollars for those requesting a place.
Interested people can apply by entering the Metro portal and going to the Become a Metro bus operator section.
Metro’s director of community relations recommended that interested persons go to the Metro website to see all available vacancies because they are not only exclusively for drivers.
The pilot program is promoted by Los Angeles supervisors under the argument that public transport users mostly they speak Spanish, so the language would not have to be be an impediment for applicants.
According to Metro directors, the COVID pandemic forced many drivers to leave their jobs or retire, which generated a shortage of drivers .
With this pilot program, the purpose is to restore bus service to normal by June with the hiring of Hispanic drivers.
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