MTA Lays Off 500 Station Agents

Flickr user SpecialKRB

As part of its cuts, the MTA recently mailed out nearly 500 layoff letters to station agents across the city, calling for agents to turn in their badges and uniforms and to attend an "exit session" before the layoffs become official. The layoffs will go into effect on Friday, causing about 70 station booths to close but it will save the MTA $21 million a year. Booth clerk Jhesky Vega, who worked his last shift on Wednesday, told the Daily News, "I'm feeling lost and dazed. I'm walking around like a zombie."

The layoffs came at a particularly bad time for Vega, who is planning his wedding in October. It came as a shock to him and many other workers, who believed their jobs would provide them life-long job security. Vega said, "The older clerks said, 'It's never going to happen.' ... And it actually did." MTA officials say that at least one station agent will still be present in every station at all times. TWU Local 100 boss John Samuelsen has expressed anger over the cuts, accusing MTA CEO Jay Walder of using stimulus funds for big, money-draining projects instead of for keeping jobs. He said, "These layoffs are destroying hundreds of families. I hope he sleeps well tonight."

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By Jaya Saxena in News on May 3, 2010 8:40 AM

Comments [rss]

rick341

You guys are biased and idiots. Lets hope none of you ever get mugged or raped, and need the assistance of an agent, because there won't be anyone there to report the incident. What if this were your family? I interact with two station agents on a daily basis and they are both helpful and really nice. Not all of them are lazy and unhelpful. That's like saying all you readers are actually smart. Ridiculous. I would think New Yorkers would be more caring.

sealab2021

Dude at the Graham stop on the L had to drag his bike through the turnstiles because the emergency exit wouldn't open.

gothamgurl

I agree that these token booth clerks are so un-helpful. I especially hate the lady working in Chambers St Station (2-3 line). She works in the afternoon shift. She is the most crabby and useless person around. Please let her be one of the lay-offs.

Peter

Unfortunately, the MTA, while closing the booths and laying off the agents, hasn't replaced the 'low-rise' turnstiles with the iron-maiden types. They already lose over $27 million a year to fare evasion. This will add to it.

wingedearth

Those station agents are so utterly useless. It's good that the NYC will stop wasting money on them.

NannyState

Whar's fat and stupid and no longer just sits there staring vacantly?

The_Real_God

You?

dirtydrunk

I feel bad that these guys are being laid off, but seriously, what do they do? I've never had an encounter with a station attendant who wasn't rude and unhelpful. This is what they're known and notorious for. Heck, they don't even call the cops when crimes are being committed. As far as I could tell, my tax dollars were going toward crossword puzzles.

oeuf

Bout time. I've never seen them offer any help besides pointing at the metrocard machines.

jza1218

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Bunch of useless idiots with high school educations doing the bare minimum.

The_Real_God

Jealous much?

schadenfreudian mensch

High School? They need a HS diploma to do what they do? I thought just an elementary diploma qualifies them for the position.

The_Real_God

Sorry not all of us can get a useless liberal arts degree like you.

GalBklyn

Typical -- cut the low guys on totem pole ... but not the excessive waste up the line.

Here is the listing of MTA salaries...

http://www.longislandpress.com/2009/06/29/advocates-release-updated-mta-salary-list/

Looking forward to the audit. Get it done Albany.

Ishtar

I hope the audit reveals how extensively Albany shortchanges the agency. Regardless, I doubt voters will vote against the elected officials who thought it was a great idea to continuously underfund the MTA.