TWU Local 100 sues MTA over station booth staffing changes
President of the Transit Workers Union Local 100 John Chiarello says it creates gaps and impacts disabled riders.
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Transit Workers Union Local 100 has filed a lawsuit against the MTA over policy changes that no longer require sick or vacationing booth agents to be replaced.
Union President John Chiarello says the change creates gaps in coverage and affects disabled riders.
“So therefore, you have nobody in that area. So they'll tell you, well, there's another person on the other side of the station, but if you're a person in a wheelchair that came on the brand new elevator provided and you come down and you can’t find them, you’re not going to know there’s another person on the other side of the station, because that’s not the way it works,” Chiarello said.
News 12 has previously reported incidents where riders became stuck in gates, and transit workers are able to release gates in emergencies. Chiarello says a lack of full staffing can lead to safety issues.
“It’s not just about customer service, it’s about customer safety — and transit took the service out of customer service,” he said.
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow sent News 12 a statement saying, “The MTA and union agreed three years ago to new rules where station agents moved outside booths to better assist not only persons with disabilities but all New Yorkers at fare gates, payment machines and throughout the entire station. At the time of that signed agreement, public notice was provided, hearings were held, and station agents were provided additional pay.”
Chiarello says the agreement is not being honored.
“It says it. They’re supposed to be out of the booth working there. Where does it say the elimination of them? It doesn’t,” he said.
Rider Marquell Archer told News 12 that station agents are also essential for people unfamiliar with the subway system.
“You know, a lot of riders are foreign. So a lot of people wouldn’t really know where they’re going, what they’re doing. And if you don’t fill those positions, you don’t know. And it makes it harder for everyone else to go,” Archer said.
