Caught On Tape: Rail Workers Stealing Time? (WNBC)

Caught On Tape: Rail Workers Stealing Time?


NEW YORK -- For years we've been hearing the MTA is going broke. Fares went up and services were cut. But NewsChannel 4's Scott Weinberger has learned about an MTA practice that's squandering your tax dollars.

More than two-dozen MTA employees are accused of spending most of their workday running personal errands, hanging out at home and even drinking, not on their lunch breaks, but on company time.

The employees all work for Metro-North Railroad. Their job descriptions range from safety inspectors to cleaning crews to maintenance workers. Some are even supervisors.

They were caught on tape by investigators from the MTA's Inspector General's Office, and through the Freedom of Information Act NewsChannel 4 was able to obtain that tape.

Thirty-one employees are accused of stealing company time. Investigators even dubbed this "Operation Seinfield," the investigation about workers doing nothing.

NewsChannel 4 tried to get in touch with the workers seen on the video through their union, but they chose to allow the union speak on their behalf.

As for the managers in charge of those workers, Metro-North officials told NewsChannel 4 they have no plans to take action against them or to change any policies.

While all of the employees caught on tape will likely face some suspensions or even possible termination, the inspector general said it's unlikely any would face criminal charges.

Now, is that any way to run a railroad? Sure! Just proves railroads can be the same as any other over-staffed, over-executived, under maintained, uncared for, unproductive, unaccountable money processing machines. As the dough goes in, service comes down. But, rules are rules.

It may have been on TV at 6 o'clock but "news" it ain't!

The tape is over a year old and persons were disiplined as far as I know.
Old news with Channel 4 trying to get mileage out of old tape.

It may be old news, but it took a year for WNBC to get the tape, and they had to use FOIA to get it.

The lack of management doesn't reflect well on MTA, especially when they are raising fares. Of course, if they looked at what MANAGERS are doing, as far as goofing off, etc, it wouldn't be any different

Once upon a time, stealing time was one of the quickest means to the unemployment line. In addition, being reinstated after dismissal for this infraction was extremely difficult.

The problem cannot be denied, but why is it that NBC (and first ABC) are attacking the railroads now? It seems as though Metro-North Railroad (and LIRR) are easy targets for the media. However, why the media is singling out commuter operations is interesting at best, since freight operations are not immune, either.

The Media does not care if someone goofs-off or steals time in private industry like freight railroads, but when its a tax run commuter railroad and the public foots the bill its fare game.
MNCR wages and benefits are great, and traveling public does not mind paying premium for good service, but when service declines and trains are getting dirtier and less reliable the public (tru the media) wants to know where their $$$ are going.

DutchRailnut wrote: MNCR wages and benefits are great, and traveling public does not mind paying premium for good service, but when service declines and trains are getting dirtier and less reliable the public (tru the media) wants to know where their $$$ are going.

Amen!

I'd argue that the public would prob be willing to pay a fare increase if it knew the money would be well spent...

But this could have just as easily been aired during January or last December, when the fare hike was being considered. Why only now?

slow newsday

Actually, they had the story ready to air the previous Thursday, but decided to wait until Monday for reasons having only to do with their own programming schedules. The IG's final report, upon which the story was based, is to be released next week (I believe).

Remember: this story on WNBC wasn't the product of their reporter's hard work and intrepid investigating. This was an IG report, leaked to WNBC. They used the IG's video, the IG's interview, and the MNR president's interview in their story. WNBC added nothing to the story except a bit of exaggeration and hype to make it sound worse than it was. They also implied that MNR wasn't going to do anything about the problem, and that's not true - the people involved have been disciplined already, based on the IG's findings.

Jim

DutchRailnut wrote:slow newsday

More likely May sweeps...

MN Jim wrote:Actually, they had the story ready to air the previous Thursday, but decided to wait until Monday for reasons having only to do with their own programming schedules. The IG's final report, upon which the story was based, is to be released next week (I believe).

Remember: this story on WNBC wasn't the product of their reporter's hard work and intrepid investigating. This was an IG report, leaked to WNBC. They used the IG's video, the IG's interview, and the MNR president's interview in their story. WNBC added nothing to the story except a bit of exaggeration and hype to make it sound worse than it was. They also implied that MNR wasn't going to do anything about the problem, and that's not true - the people involved have been disciplined already, based on the IG's findings.

Jim

Distortion of the truth, why am I not surprised during May sweeps? If the IG's report is made public, or can be FOIA'ed, I would rather read that for an OBJECTIVE truth.