Kindly Old Man Will Likely Lose Job Over Nap (In Token Booth)

An MTA employee entering his golden years was recently caught dozing like the Maytag repairman inside the token booth at the City Hall R station. A regular late night rider took a photo of the unidentified worker, who looks like he moonlights as a kindly grandpa in Werther's Originals ads, and gave it to NY1. The news crew dispatched a reporter to confront the employee, who works the graveyard shift and has been on the job almost 20 years. His befuddled explanation just melts your heart:

"I always check money and everything else and look at it carefully," insists Sleepy, "Because I've found errors in the money, there are, slightly misprints, what do you call. In fact, I've shown clerks the same, what I've found. And as I've said, I could have been looking at it closely like this." MTA officials are investigating, and say "such behavior will not be tolerated." But the Transit Workers Union insists he has a spotless record, adding, "The union has his back... We just want to point out that perception isn't always reality." (No matter how many times you perceive it.)

NY1 points out that besides being a terrorist target, City Hall also happens to be where union leaders protested the layoff of more than 200 booth workers, warning that cuts would leave riders vulnerable. "Makes me angry," one straphanger told the news show. "Right now we have lot of people that are out of work, and who want work, who would do diligent jobs." (FWIW, the MTA is trying to lay off hundreds of station agents.) Oh come on, this guy's probably saved the MTA a fortune with all the counterfeit bills he's spotted!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on August 5, 2010 9:34 AM

Comments [rss]

Amanda Harletsch

are these the lazy ass liberals that want to live from the taxpayer's money by receiving social program's money!? He has to work 'till he dies! Lazy hippie!

Yeah let's ignore that tip of the pyramid manipulating the dumb-asses in the right to get away pissing on the poorest, but complaining about nobody spending money and nobody hiring.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

Can you imagine being on a job and having the breaks you are entitled to in a box?

Where do meals come from, can I get some fresh air brother?

The lack of compassion is disturbing.

LYAO

THE JOB SUCKS, ANYONE WOULD SLEEP ON THAT POS JOB. WHAT SUCKS IS AFTER 20 YEARS HE GOT CAUGHT!

LYAO @

http://www.goldenbulls.us/blygoisco.html

ps FIRE BLOOMBERG FOR KILLING 100,000 GEESE

whitecastlerock

If Mr. Sleepy TIme Pants was sound asleep while someone was getting raped, mugged, or assaulted the response would be a lot different. Instead, he gets a free pass because he is an old slacker? Fuck that shit.

slurm

@whitecastlerock You're still a douche. Nobody is perfect.

He deserves another chance. A spotless record and getting fired for one infraction? Give him a break...

whitecastlerock

Hey and you are cum guzzler-fuck off. Enjoy the MTA nutsack on your chin...

just saying

Spotless record? Most likely he's just never been caught sleeping before. The only reason the job of token booth clerk hasn't been eliminated at City Hall station is because this station is a possible known terrorist target. The token booth clerk is there to provide a vigilant presence. For this guy to waste taxpayer money (and possibly compromise rider safety) by snoozing the night away is completely unacceptable.

If this guy has been an MTA employee for almost 20 years, he should have been well aware of the work rules. The MTA has a zero tolerance policy for token booth clerks who expect to be paid for sleeping on the job. If you snooze, you lose [your job].

meknow

"The only reason the job of token booth clerk hasn't been eliminated at City Hall station is because this station is a possible known terrorist target. The token booth clerk is there to provide a vigilant presence."

Haha! Yeah right.

just saying

I agree with you. The supposed vigilance of this token booth clerk is a joke.

meknow

And toll booth employees are there to protect us from zombies.

just saying

So, how long have you been an MTA employee?

meknow

I'll bet you're perfect and never fall short of it. Better not!

Douche.

whitecastlerock

Hey fucktard, you need to wake the fuck up. The guy slept on the job. The union makes sure their members have ample sick time-stay the fuck home if you are sick or tired. Don't get mad at me because you will have to pay more for less-while people are getting paid to sleep on the fucking job. Stay tough internet warrior

meknow

I can tell with 100% certainty that you're some sort of champion of perfection. Especially when it comes to time management...

Tossing around judgment and arguing on a blog in the middle of a work day. Sweet.

whitecastlerock

Ever hear of a lunch hour stupid? Probably not-you must be unemployable. Not arguing with an MTA union load swallower like you-nope. I don't stand a chance. Go bring Grandpa Sleepy Time a blanket and warm milk and read him a little bedtime story. Heaven forfend I think he should stay the fuck awake while working.

jaems33

I love some of these responses.

The MTA demands more money. Citizens believe they should be cutting the extra fat (lazy and/or overpaid workers). We clearly see an incident where a person who should be working is dozing off. And the person to blame in all of this is the person who took the photo?

Cripes. I'm sure as hell glad that someone had the balls to do what's right.

cmdrogogov

I definitely think the guy should be disciplined, but not fired. If he's having difficulty doing his job his shifts should be changed.

As for the photo taker - good job. It's about time people started holding institutions and their employees to a higher standard... now if we can just do the same thing with elected officials....

just saying

Exactly. Why is this old codger even working the late night shift anyway? With all his seniority, he could have his pick of better shifts. Perhaps he just likes the grave shift because there's little work and he can sleep on the job. And what kind of BS is he telling people? Checking to see if bills are counterfeit? Hardly. He's clearly sleeping.

More likely than not, this is the type of lazy token booth clerk who would have no problem ignoring a passenger being assaulted on the platform.

Spirit of 76

"But the Transit Workers Union insists he has a spotless record, adding, "The union has his back..."

But of course they do. Can there be any doubt? A union would stand behind one of its members even if he was convicted of mass murder. Heck, there was a union steward defending that guy in Connecticut just before he pulled out a gun and shot the rep. They're just continuing their roles as the guardians of civilization, as "thefacts" likes to keep telling us.

Politburo

A union would stand behind one of its members even if he was convicted of mass murder. Heck, there was a union steward defending that guy in Connecticut just before he pulled out a gun and shot the rep.
What a fucking vile comment. The guy was killed in cold blood and you use his death to bash unions. You are a sick fuck.

The hearing that occurred before the shooting was not for mass murder, you piece of shit.