News
MBTA Union And Baker’s T Managers Agree On At Least One Thing: Leave Policy Is A Mess
WGBH | By Mike Deehan | January 8, 2016 One of the many problems the MBTA is trying to solve is the misuse and mismanagement of a critical leave program that’s lead to rampant cost overruns for the agency. Absenteeism among MBTA workers was one of the factors T managers cited to explain last winter’s…
Read MoreRight Behind Us: The T’s Failures Are Catching Up
BC Heights | By Matthew BeDugnis | November 1, 2015 “Attention, this train is disabled and being taken out of service. There’s service right behind us.” These disturbingly common words came over the PA system on one of my daily trips down Commonwealth Ave. this week. What was uncommon, however, was the fatigue with which…
Read MoreEducating T Riders about the Dangers of Privatization
Wednesday night, members of of the executive board along with Local 589 members, members of other MBTA unions, various community groups, and T riders joined together outside South Station, Downtown Crossing, and Park Street T stations to educate riders about the dangers of privatization. Over 10,000 pamphlets were handed out to riders to let them know…
Read MoreHow to earn profits and avoid taxes
Boston Globe | By Evan Horowitz | October 14, 2015 When US companies earn profits abroad, they don’t have to pay taxes straightaway. They can hold on to that money, tax free, so long as they don’t use it for their US operations. This little loophole in US tax law gives companies a strong incentive to book…
Read MoreQuick-Thinking Driver Protects Passengers, Helps Save Veteran’s Life
A potential disastrous situation onboard an MBTA bus was avoided Wednesday thanks to a quick-thinking driver and two Boston police officers. Around 12:30 p.m., the driver, Wilberto Colon—a 21-year veteran of the MBTA out of the Cabot Bus Garage—said the man came to front of the bus brandishing a hatchet and told him to stop…
Read MoreThe T’s haves and have-nots
Boston Globe | By Joan Vennochi December 17, 2015 TO FIX ITS aging infrastructure, the MBTA estimates it needs $7 billion. At the same time, the transit agency faces a $242 million deficit in next year’s operating budget. With an unbalanced balance sheet like that, every saved penny helps, right? But when those savings come via service…
Read MoreSpecial Assessment for Privatization Fight
We have received several calls about the $5 dollar special assessment to help fund our privatization fight (i.e., legal fees, pamphlets, etc.). It started on October 2nd and will continue until further notice. For questions, please contact the union hall.
Read MoreCutting Transit Service Doesn’t Save as Much Money as You Think
Frontier Group | By Tony Dutzik | 12/07/2015 Cuts to transit service are among the many options being considered by Gov. Charlie Baker’s Fiscal and Management Control Board as it attempts to restore the MBTA to fiscal and operational health. Late-night service, weekend commuter rail service, and service on up to 28 regular bus lines…
Read MoreTransit advocates wary as T considers ways to save cash
By Nicole Dungca GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 07, 2015 Public transportation advocates and union leaders are bracing for an array of cost-saving proposals from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as it struggles to balance its budget. The MBTA is considering more than two dozen options to dig its way out of a shortfall, including hiking fares…
Read MoreIs this any way to run a railroad?
Media Nation | By Dan Kennedy | Nov. 20, 2015 I’ve tried to be optimistic about Gov. Charlie Baker’s management of the MBTA. But there are some ominous signs that he’s less interested in creating a world-class public transportation system than he is in reducing costs for his non-T-riding supporters. Three examples: As Boston Globe…
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