Last week, a new subway rail scandal highlighted ongoing issues with MTA labor contracts. Two individuals, identified as con artists, reportedly forged safety and equipment checks at a commuter station.
The fraud came to light when a manager noticed discrepancies in the claiming system—specifically, that the safety work had supposedly been completed at a certain time, despite GPS records showing the inspector’s vehicle was elsewhere.
This incident, alarming as it is, isn’t the first of its kind involving MTA railway employees. Commuter safety is in jeopardy, given that essential testing, inspections, and maintenance were neglected.
- In 2024, an audit revealed that other Metro North inspectors had falsified checks, resulting in 100 unfinished safety tests along the New Haven Line and the New Canaan branch.
- Additionally, last year saw inspectors discovering that MetroNorth supervisors frequently disabled workplace GPS to run personal errands.
- A 2019 report from Imperial Centre pointed to rising overtime costs at LIRR, suggesting that excessive overtime was being used to inflate pension payouts.
Critics, including the Imperial Centre, have long pointed to misguided union work rules and insufficient managerial oversight as culprits behind systemic abuses in the MTA’s two commuter railways, leading to wastage of taxpayer money and heightened risks for passengers.
Union mandates for high pay and costly work rules appear to leave commuters and taxpayers bearing the financial burden.
While LIRR faces its own delays, MetroNorth could potentially reduce abuse and improve productivity by implementing cameras, GPS, and biometrics. However, the protection offered by union contracts can often undermine disciplinary actions based on this evidence, allowing inefficiencies to persist.
As contract negotiations continue, there are discussions about possibly eliminating some problematic work rules.
“We need to advocate for the riders,” said MTA leader Janno Lieber recently during a meeting with the editorial board.
With ongoing federal mediation for LIRR and looming budget deficits for states, cities, and the MTA itself, it’s critical to steer towards a more sustainable financial path.
