News
Carmen’s Union chief defends perk that uses sick time to pad pension
Boston Herald | By Erin Smith | Wednesday, January 27, 2016 The head of the Boston Carmen’s Union blasted criticism of a plum union perk that allows T employees to pad their pensions with unused paid sick leave — saying the benefit actually helps combat absenteeism. “The MBTA for the past year has been saying our employees don’t…
Read MoreCutting late-night T service could impact minority, low-income riders
Boston Globe | By Adam Vaccaro | 01.19.16 Eliminating late-night weekend T service might have a disproportionate effect on low-income and minority riders, a transit official said Tuesday. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is required by the federal law to run an “equity analysis” to see whether any planned service changes would have a greater impact…
Read MoreRight-Wing Network Puts Friedrichs v. California Teachers in Samuel Alito’s Lap
PR Watch | By Mary Bottari | January 8, 2016 Justice Samuel Alito has been scouring the land looking for a case to make his mark on history. Could he find a way to hold a big bank accountable for ripping off millions of consumers? Could he interpret intellectual property law to give more desperately ill…
Read MoreRequiem for a Union Boss in His America
The Daily Beast | By Mike Barnicle | 01.10.162:42 PM ET As we collectively wring our hands over wealth inequality in the U.S., perhaps we should look no further than our disembowelment of unions. It was nearly 9 PM the other night and more than a couple thousand people had already paid their respects at a…
Read MoreMBTA digs into worker overtime, absenteeism
By Nicole Dungca GLOBE STAFF JANUARY 09, 2016 More than 40 percent of overtime paid to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority workers in the 2015 fiscal year went to employees who didn’t work 40 hours in one week, according to MBTA officials. Such practices have led the T to launch audits into the agency’s overtime rules,…
Read MoreLetters To Editor: T pension fund on track
Boston Herald | Monday, May 09, 2016 The Herald reports that the MBTA Retirement Fund “discloses virtually no other info on a regular basis” than its annual reports (“Auditor ‘had to start from scratch’ on delayed T pension 2015 report,” April 25). The Boston Carmen’s Union has advocated that more information be made public. In…
Read MoreBoston Marathon TV Ad: We’ll Get You There!
Whether you’re running in the Boston Marathon or watching from the sidelines, we’ll get you there! #RidersFirst
Read MoreMBTA slashes worker overtime spending, absence
Boston Globe | By Matt Rocheleau | March 14, 2016 The MBTA has significantly reduced employee overtime spending and absenteeism so far this year, leading to fewer canceled trips for riders, according to data the agency released Monday. The T spent an average of about $119,000 per day on worker overtime costs during the first…
Read MoreFTI Consulting’s Audit Report
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Retirement Fund (MBTARF) today released FTI Consulting’s Audit Report assessing the MBTARF related to the report’s Annual Reports for the calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Independent Audit refutes previous allegations, showing that they were unsupported and unsubstantiated. James O’Brien, President of the Boston Carmen’s Union, Local 589 and MBTARF Board…
Read MoreThis study says Boston is the third best city in the U.S. for public transit
Boston Globe | By Kristin Toussaint | Feb. 23, 2016 MBTA riders gripe about the T often—like, really often—but apparently Boston is the third best city in the country for public transportation, at least according to a new study by finance technology site SmartAsset, which is based out of New York City. SmartAsset looked at…
Read More