The runaway time beyond regulation practice in Boston has been diverted in New York City by utilizing high-tech controls, a Herald payroll evaluation discovered.
In Boston, 38 MBTA staff earned $100,000 or extra in time beyond regulation final yr — together with three who topped $200,000-plus.
In New York City, two MTA staff clocked in OT simply over $100,000 — and that got here throughout a hiring freeze.
“It’s absurd we have seven times more super overtime people here on the T,” mentioned Greg Sullivan of the Pioneer Institute. He known as on the Boston brass to check what New Yorkers do and undertake it, quick.
“T management should hire the firm New York did and ask them to make a bid to do an independent analysis and put an end to overtime abuse here,” Sullivan, a former state inspector common, added.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, largely, runs New York City’s large subway system. Facing rising OT prices pre-pandemic, the company employed the legislation agency Morrison & Foerster in 2019.
The outcome? “We were able to hold the line,” mentioned MTA boss Lisette Camilo in an MTA announcement. He added OT has dropped to a “manageable” stage.
The MTA’s strict controls embrace:
- Electronic OT approval types “for real-time oversight.”
- Weekly time beyond regulation exercise reviews.
- Mid-year critiques and efficiency value determinations to observe “compliance.”
- Prioritizing initiatives to “minimize overtime.”
The MBTA, responding to a Herald request this week for steps it’s taking to cap OT, mentioned security and capital initiatives drive added hours.
“MBTA experience is that OT hours have been consistent at approximately 14-15%; recent increases moving to the far end of that range are responding to robust capital program, safety and vacancies due to the challenging labor market,” T spokesman Joe Pesaturo mentioned in an e-mail.
He added, “to help improve service reliability while reducing the use of OT, the T is also ramping up hiring of new employees” within the new fiscal yr.
Pesaturo mentioned the T is trying to rent 152 positions “directly for service and transportation” together with 76 for the bus fleet, 41 for heavy and lightweight rail, 119 for upkeep and safety, 64 for system, energy, and amenities upkeep, 41 for bus and rail upkeep.
He mentioned finance managers “review and analyze overtime expenses monthly and they regularly report year-to-date and year-over-year trends” to senior administration.
Louise Baxter of the T Riders Union agreed extra drivers must be employed, however she added there’s “too much top-down” management in Boston the place bus drivers aren’t given “enough discretion.”
A Herald evaluation additionally reveals the T’s time beyond regulation tally is dominated by a who’s who of foremen overseeing painters, pipefitters, wire and observe employees. Just a few transit cops crack the $100,000 OT checklist with crime on the T a difficulty, however that’s much more so in New York City.
But it’s not apples to apples when in comparison with New York City’s MTA, the place the time beyond regulation prime canine work within the warehouse, storerooms and knowledge facilities. The prime OT transit cop in NYC pulled down $67,000 in time beyond regulation final yr. The prime OT officer in Boston earned $142,000 in OT.
The MTA OT bible stresses {that a} “modern timekeeping system” has held the company to “greater accountability and validation of overtime spending” — and spreading the additional hours round.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”