Union plans MTA to cut station jobs amidst crime spike

The MTA’s plan to cut station booth conditions is “the opposite” of “common sense”, amid a spike in metro crime, the head of the agency’s largest union said on Thursday.

TWU Local 100 president Tony Utano testified at the MTA’s February board meeting, “Nobody feels safe in the metro, not the riders and certainly not the workers.”

“So why is the MTA still moving forward with plans to temporarily close our metro station booths, leaving them unaffected for periods of time during morning, evening and overnight shifts? How could this possibly be the situation? Can help? “

Utano was speaking out against a transit authority proposal to close 20 station booths and end 185 “lunch relief” station attendant roles, while regular attendees assigned to cover booths take a 30-minute lunch break.

The plan must be placed before a public hearing to be implemented, a judge ruled last month after TWU filed a lawsuit to delay the deduction.

An MTA proposal would close 20 station booths and eliminate 185
A proposal by the MTA would close 20 station booths and eliminate 185 “lunch relief” station attendant roles.
Via Levi Raidin / Pacific Press / Lightweight Getty Image

Utano discredited the MTA because the hypocrisy given to the city together for more police on the subway was heresy. He cited data from the NYPD, which showed robberies, rapes and murders of the previous year compared to 2019.

“On one hand, you are demanding the NYPD to have more uniformed police officers in the metro. We agree with this, ”he said. “But on the other hand, you are looking to remove uniformed station agents who provide additional eyes and ears for law enforcement.”

“This is contrary to common knowledge. Reducing station staff would be a bad idea during the best times. This is an absolutely terrible idea today. “

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