Union leaders urge MBTA officials to reconsider bus privatization plan
Union heads called on MBTA officials Monday morning to pump the brakes on a plan that would allow some low-ridership bus routes to be operated by private companies.
Russell Gittlen, the regional director of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and James O’Brien, who heads the local Carmen’s Union, each addressed the T’s Fiscal and Management Control Board about the plan, which union members have criticized vociferously since it came to light last month.
“I am requesting that now and in the future you partner with your employees and their respective representatives—public union partnerships before public-private partnerships—to fix key findings in a fair way,’’ said Gittlen, who is also a board member for the state Department of Transportation. He aired similar thoughts at a MassDOT board meeting last week.
The T, to this point, has only begun requesting information from interested private parties. The move is the result of a three-year repeal of a state law that requires state agencies to show contracting out a service will save money before it can do so.
Critics of the law argue that it creates too high a barrier for agencies looking to explore private partnerships, while advocates argue it protects both union workers and public funds.
That debate grew heated as Gov. Charlie Baker pushed for a hiatus to that law for the T throughout the spring and summer. Ultimately, he secured a three-year break over the objections of union officials and some lawmakers.
O’Brien has since aggressively pushed against the bus plan, by organizing a Labor Day protest and voicing his concerns through the press. His chief fear: that by replacing service on some routes, workers will lose their jobs.
MBTA officials have tried to assuage that fear, saying affected drivers and buses would be moved to help deal with busier bus routes. But Gittlen and O’Brien said they think the agency should take a different approach—rather than bringing in outside help to handle slow routes, they say, the T should take it a step further and consider reconfiguring its bus routes.
“I am asking this control board to explore a redesign of routes to reach desired results instead of subcontracting,’’ Gittlen said.
“I would also ask that the scheduling and planning department do a complete review of all the bus routes to see if there’s any changes necessary where you could increase ridership before you guys think about actually outsourcing this. … I think that’s the first step.’’
The MBTA’s horrible winter, in photos:
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