Boston Globe | By Matt Rocheleau | March 14, 2016 The MBTA has significantly reduced employee overtime spending and absenteeism so far this year, leading to fewer canceled trips for riders, according to data the agency released Monday. The T spent an average of about $119,000 per day on worker overtime costs during the first…
Yesterday, Local 589’s executive board made a food donation to Rosie’s Place. To the right is a photo of the board with Marty Wengert, Rosie’s Place volunteer services director.
Today is Transit Driver Appreciation Day, and Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589, of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), salutes MBTA bus and subway drivers (transit operators) not only for the vital service they perform, but for the many extra acts of help and kindness they perform every day. “The members of the Boston Carmen’s Union…
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Retirement Fund (MBTARF) today released FTI Consulting’s Audit Report assessing the MBTARF related to the report’s Annual Reports for the calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Independent Audit refutes previous allegations, showing that they were unsupported and unsubstantiated. James O’Brien, President of the Boston Carmen’s Union, Local 589 and MBTARF Board…
Last night, crews connected and installed two new pieces of rail on the MBTA RedLine near JFK/UMass station. Another great example of our members always ready to make the repairs needed to keep our buses and trains running smoothly for our riders. More photos like this can be seen on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
On Monday, February 15, 2016, at approximately 5:50 PM, the subject depicted within spat on an MBTA Bus Operator near Central Square in Lynn. The incident occurred onboard an MBTA Bus # 871, Route # 442. If you know the whereabouts or identity of this individual please contact our Criminal Investigations Unit at 617-222-1050. If you…
Boston Globe | By Kristin Toussaint | Feb. 23, 2016 MBTA riders gripe about the T often—like, really often—but apparently Boston is the third best city in the country for public transportation, at least according to a new study by finance technology site SmartAsset, which is based out of New York City. SmartAsset looked at…
Dear members: Local 589 has endorsed the following state senate candidates for two separate special elections in April: Endorsed Candidate: Patrick O’Connor Date of Election: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 District: Plymouth and Norfolk District, which include the following towns: Weymouth, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Marshfield, Norwell, Hull, and Scituate. Endorsed Candidate: Jay Livingstone Date of Election:…
Today, a fire broke out in East Boston near Putnam and Bennington streets after electric equipment failed, causing about 200 customers to lose power. An MBTA bus was dispatched to the scene to assist the displaced residents, many of which were children. The executive board would like to thank the following Local 589 members for…
Boston Globe | By Nicole Dungca | Feb. 10, 2016 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials on Wednesday will take up a plan backed by Governor Charlie Baker to privatize departments that maintain fare machines, count cash fares, and run marketing and retail operations, a step that could eliminate about 250 jobs in all, according to…
State House News Service | By Andy Metzger | Feb. 10, 2016 BOSTON – The MBTA’s plans for a dramatic reduction in its business-side workforce through outsourcing of cash handling and fare gates generated a forceful rebuttal from transit unions at a Wednesday meeting. “A big part of this is to improve performance,” Chief Administrator Brian…
Dear members, The regular meeting of the membership will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at the Boston Teachers Union Hall, 180 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester, MA (behind the State Police Station near Columbia Rd. and Morrissey Blvd.) accessible by the Red Line. The regular order of business will be transacted. …
Commonwealth Magazine | By Bruce Mohl | Jan 29, 2016 The Pioneer Institute released a report this week highlighting what it called a “sweetheart deal” for MBTA employees, but union officials are saying the deal isn’t as sweet as the analysis or the resulting news stories would suggest. Pioneer’s report, written by Mary Connaughton, focused…
Boston Herald | By O’Ryan Johnson | Wednesday, January 27, 2016 A Somali immigrant was arrested yesterday for hitting an MBTA bus driver and records show transit cops have locked him up three times for violent assaults in less than three years, officials said. Mohamed Noor, 29, of Brookline was arrested after he boarded a…
Former John Hancock CEO David D’Alessandro joined Jim Braude on “Greater Boston” last night to talk about a number of issues, including the T, which he explored in a review commissioned by then-Gov. Patrick in 2009. On fixing the T, D’Alessandro, whose outstanding analysis of the T was largely ignored, said: “It’s going to take…