MTA Pulls Emergency Cord; Includes Layoffs In Cutting 2,269 Jobs; Bus Drivers, Station Agents To Take Heaviest Hit If Plan Proceeds

It went from bad to worse.

LEE SANDER: The hits just keep on coming.

Throughout the year, New York City Transit workers heard that in an effort to cut its deficit, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would be asking for givebacks from unions at the bargaining table in addition to cutting administrative costs. Members braced for concessions in their next contract, but with the news that it would propose cutting service on the W and Z subway lines and various bus routes, the MTA board Nov. 20 announced that it would also be cutting more than 2,000 jobs, including some through layoffs.

MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot Sander proposed that NYC Transit would cut 2,269 positions in 2009 by canceling bus routes with low ridership and those that run along subway lines, and discontinuing the two subway lines.

Seniority Will Protect Some

Mr. Sander said the MTA did not yet know who exactly would be laid off if the service cuts were actually imposed.

"It is affected by civil service rules in terms of bumping rights," he told reporters after the board meeting. "If you look at these cuts, they particularly impact Bus Operators and Station Agents, and then you have to see what titles individuals in these positions were hired [for], what bumping rights exist, and whether they would then be able to go back to previous titles."

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'OUGHT TO LAY YOU OFF': Station Agent Marty Goldman was the biggest heckler among the many speakers at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board meeting Nov. 20, denouncing MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot Sander's budget proposal that included service cutbacks and job reduction.

Various transportation advocates told the board that the MTA should cover budget shortfalls with increased tax dollars instead of service cuts. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056 President Ed Figueroa, speaking during the public comments segment of the board meeting, insisted that the MTA continue its support of a Federal transit aid bill that would provide $1.7 billion in nationwide transit aid. Board member and Correction Officers Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook suggested that the City Council impose a 33-percent "sin tax" on tobacco and alcohol that would go to funding transit.

Cuts Begin in Spring

MTA Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger stressed that while various board members and advocates argued to increase outside revenue sources for the MTA, the board only has the authority to adjust internal costs and was mandated to create a balanced budget by the end of 2008. He added that the service cuts would not go into effect until the spring and the fare increases until the summer, giving city, state and Federal lawmakers time to increase funding that could potentially stave off the cutbacks.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 has not made a statement about the cutbacks, although President Roger Toussaint has called for management cuts in the past. Secretary-Treasurer Ed Watt, a non-voting MTA board member, remained silent throughout the entire meeting last week, but several rank-and-file members expressed their disapproval to the board.

"We call for a restructuring at the MTA headquarters," Electrical Specialist Charles Jenkins said before the meeting. "We're talking about the CEOs that have enormous salaries, golden parachutes when they leave the company, sort of what we've seen with the Big Three automakers, where CEOs are making phenomenal salaries on the back of workers, and workers and the riders are paying the costs."

Joined by other Local 100 members, Mr. Jenkins said that cutting Station Agents in particular would result in a less-safe transit system for riders.

'System's Eyes and Ears'

"Our Station Agents are the eyes and ears of the Transit Authority, of the riding public," he said. "We intend for this here system to stay safe."

Mr. Jenkins lamented that there was no official union demonstration outside the meeting, but said an alliance should be formed between riders who are upset with service cutbacks and fare increases and rank-and-file workers. He cited Local 100's successful attempt several years ago to stave off the elimination of Station Agents when it united with riders who feared that unstaffed stations would be less safe.

During his presentation, Mr. Sander stressed that reducing payroll costs would have to focus on maintenance and operations jobs, as they make up 88 percent of the MTA workforce, while administrative positions account for only 7 percent.

Perennial MTA board meeting gadfly Station Agent Marty Goodman ripped Mr. Sander's proposal, saying that while there was a Wall Street crisis, banks were receiving government bailouts while MTA workers and riders were made to suffer the consequences of its budget shortfalls.

'Government of the Banks ...'

"It looks like New York's been turned into 'Let's Make a Deal' with the banks, of the banks, for the banks," he said.

MTA security attempted to remove Mr. Goodman for shouting out several times throughout the meeting. When Mr. Sander announced layoffs, Mr. Goodman shouted, "We should lay you off," and told Mr. Watt that if he didn't speak against the lay-offs he should resign.

"I'm beyond angry," he said after the meeting.

District Council 37 Local 1655 President Jonathan Gray, who represents clerical workers at several MTA agencies, wasn't sure last week if any of his members would be affected by the job cuts, but said regardless, he was in favor of paring management-level positions to cut costs rather than laying off lower-level workers.

'Working Them to the Bone'

"I would hate to see anyone lose their jobs," he said of mid-level supervisors in a phone interview, "but it should not be laid on the backs of the workers. They're working now pretty much to the bone."

Mr. Sander called for job reductions in several other MTA agencies, including cutting 249 positions at MTA Bus.

Both he and Mr. Hemmerdinger stressed that the proposals were not what anyone wanted to hear, but that they were the only actions the board could take considering the authority's financial situation. When asked by a reporter after the board meeting what single word he would use to describe the service and job cuts he proposed, Mr. Sander paused pensively.

"Draconian," he said with a nod. "I would say Draconian."