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The annual Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll report compiled by the nonprofit Empire Center for Public Policy found that while overtime did continue falling from record high levels in 2018, more than 400 employees made more than $100,000 in extra pay, and nearly 700 of them more than doubled their regular salaries.
At least 19 workers got paid more than $200,000 in overtime, according to the report
Overall, the MTA spent $1.1 billion in overtime in 2020 — down $238 million from 2018, when the Empire Center’s annual payroll report revealed alarmingly high overtime rates and spurred several investigations into fraud and abuse among MTA workers.
In February, a federal grand jury indicted six MTA workers — including five from the LIRR — on charges of fraud and conspiracy for stealing tens of thousands of dollars in unearned overtime pay, and then working together to cover it up, court documents show.
With an opportunity for graft and corruption why are you surprised that so many didn't let an opportunity pass them by?
I'm not surprised at all but I am kind of surprised that the head's of those transportation authorities allow it to happen/don't do anything about it when it's a known problem. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised because they are corrupt too.
I'm not surprised at all but I am kind of surprised that the head's of those transportation authorities allow it to happen/don't do anything about it when it's a known problem. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised because they are corrupt too.
Who's going to do anything about it? No one, ever, at any level. And the hamster wheel keeps spinning.....
How many of these employees are still booking fake OT hours? Eliminate/cut down drastically this problem and you cure a lot of the budget deficits.
They should do a detailed audit of at least those 700 employees who more than doubled their regular salaries.
they did, its all LIRR people at the top and throughout the entire payroll
I was shocked the train stations are all empty and they are cutting service how have they been doing all this over time during a pandemic?
Five top OT earners in 2020:
LIRR Utility worker Salvatore Lazzarino, $252,891 on top of $77,038 in regular pay.
LIRR track foreman Patrick Damboise, $244,616 on top of $98,384 in regular pay.
LIRR track foreman Edward Popolizio, $238,788 on top of $104,807 in regular pay.
MTA police sergeant James Bertram, $237,176 on top of $145,719 in regular pay.
LIRR machine operator Lee Levine, $227,035 on top of $86,732 salary.
interesting I just found out, the MTA can not go bankrupt. This is why this is happening. they should have went bankrupt a long time ago. they need to go bankrupt, everyone needs to get fired, their prices are to high, and they are high because of mismanagement .
and, those prices, will never come down unless they file for bankruptcy
MTA is legally barred from filing for bankruptcy. This doesn’t get discussed much — perhaps to avoid evoking New York City’s own brush with insolvency in the 1970s. For instance, neither Moody’s Investors Service nor S&P Global Ratings mentioned the word “bankruptcy” in reports this year explaining why they downgraded the agency’s debt. Fitch Ratings, which gives the MTA a higher grade than its two competitors, also cut the MTA’s rating after the Covid-19 pandemic roiled the New York metropolitan area. But it specifically cites the lack of bankruptcy risk as a key strength.Here’s the provision in full, from a recent MTA bond sale:
No Bankruptcy. State law specifically prohibits MTA, its Transit System affiliates, its Commuter System subsidiaries or MTA Bus from filing a bankruptcy petition under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code. As long as any Transportation Revenue Bonds are outstanding, the State has covenanted not to change the law to permit MTA or its affiliates or subsidiaries to file such a petition. Chapter 9 does not provide authority for creditors to file involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against MTA or other Related Entities.
There were putting in biometric time clocks but due to the pandemic their use was paused. Cheaters gotta cheat.
The same biometric clocks that were repeatedly vandalized and ripped out of the wall? And out of curiosity, why would the pandemic cause a pause in using them? Seems bizarre to me, but as you said, cheaters gotta cheat.
LIRR Utility worker Salvatore Lazzarino, $252,891 on top of $77,038 in regular pay.
LIRR track foreman Patrick Damboise, $244,616 on top of $98,384 in regular pay.
LIRR track foreman Edward Popolizio, $238,788 on top of $104,807 in regular pay.
MTA police sergeant James Bertram, $237,176 on top of $145,719 in regular pay.
LIRR machine operator Lee Levine, $227,035 on top of $86,732 salary.
I just did the math, assuming they get 50% OT pay (it could be a different structure) but this is the following OT per WEEK over 52 WEEKS that each of those 5 employees book. I also read that they book commuting time as billable hours which is completely ridiculous. They need to stop that policy ASAP.
[*]LIRR Utility worker Salvatore Lazzarino, $252,891 on top of $77,038 in regular pay. - 87.54 OT Hours / Week (127.54 Total Hours / Week)
[*]LIRR track foreman Patrick Damboise, $244,616 on top of $98,384 in regular pay. - 66.30 OT Hours / Week (106.3 Total Hours / Week)
[*]LIRR track foreman Edward Popolizio, $238,788 on top of $104,807 in regular pay. - 60.76 OT Hours / Week (100.76 Total Hours / Week)
[*]MTA police sergeant James Bertram, $237,176 on top of $145,719 in regular pay. - 43.40 OT Hours / Week (83.4 Total Hours / Week)
[*]LIRR machine operator Lee Levine, $227,035 on top of $86,732 salary. - 69.80 OT Hours / Week (109.8 Total Hours / Week)
Anything over 100 hours per week is absolutely ridiculous. Investment banking analysts aren't even allowed to work that much anymore.
I have a hard time believing that Sal is working 18.22 hours/day, 7 days/week
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