It took eight long years for Gov. Cuomo to confront out of whack costs at the MTA, from labor to contracts. Now, incensed at embarrassing reports of overtime abuse, he’s demanding real action across the board.
Spare us the words. Show us the savings.
New chairman Pat Foye and the division chiefs must start cracking down, hard and fast, lest billions in fares and billions more in congestion pricing revenue get squandered.
Late last month, the Empire Center in Albany found that MTA overtime costs swelled by nearly 16% last year, or $418 million.
Though every unit played a part, the Long Island Rail Road was worst by a country mile. OT there shot up 30%, to $224 million. Fifty-eight of the MTA’s 100 highest-paid employees, including the top four, worked at the LIRR. How much did some hourly employees earn, after all was said and done? $461,646, $395,397 and $380,407, driving up their pensions in the bargain.
Wednesday, the Daily News’ Michael Gartland reported that the MTA is thinking about siccing its police force on LIRR employees to take attendance and monitor OT use. Seems like a dubious use of the cops, who’ve had their own serious overtime scandals.
How about basic controls to prevent cost overruns, no shows and featherbedding? How about Cuomo and the MTA finally driving a hard bargain with the governor’s Transport Workers Union pals, rather than punting on reforms that curb paycheck-padding practices, as they have in the last two rounds of bargaining?
© 2019 New York Daily News
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