JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is cutting hundreds of jobs to close a $39 million budget gap, and some of those employees say the impact was immediate and unexpected.
News4JAX spoke with one laid-off JTA employee who said workers were blindsided by the cuts.
“Employees are feeling very hurt and blindsided,” the employee said.
The employee, who asked not to be identified, said Friday was their last day. They said colleagues were called to the boardroom, handed a severance packet, and told their health insurance would expire at the end of the month.
“They were just called up to the boardroom and handed a packet. And they were taking their IDs,” the employee said.
More than 150 positions eliminated
News4JAX obtained a list of more than 150 employees whose positions are being eliminated as part of JTA’s restructuring.
Employees who worked with JTA’s Skyway Line are also on the list. News4JAX witnessed the Skyway operating in downtown Jacksonville on Monday. Workers who oversaw JTA’s Navi system are included as well. JTA says Navi will make its last run at the end of this year.
Employees escorted out of the building
After receiving the severance packet, laid-off workers were escorted out of JTA headquarters, the employee told News4JAX.
“You have to make an appointment when they try to get all your personal stuff. And they’ll escort you in so you get your personal belongings and then they escort you out the building. And you’re done,” the employee said.
JTA defends severance agreement terms
JTA’s severance agreement asks laid-off employees to give up certain legal claims against the agency and comply with confidentiality and non-disparagement restrictions in exchange for severance pay. The agreement also warns that violating those terms could put an employee’s severance benefits at risk.
When News4JAX asked JTA about the language, the agency clarified that the document is not a non-disclosure agreement. JTA called it a separation agreement that includes standard confidentiality language regarding financial terms, and said it is structured in accordance with state and federal laws.
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