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MTA ORDERED TO RESTORE CONDUCTORS ON AUTOMATED SUBWAY LINES

Photographs by Laura Geiser

August 30, 2005 - Just hours after Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined transit workers and police officers in criticizing the MTA’s plan to eliminate conductors on the L and G subway lines, a decision was disclosed ordering the train conductors restored. The arbitrator’s ruling was announced at a public town hall meeting Tuesday night, called to discuss transit issues and concerns for public safety.

“This is the right decision for public safety as well as for the transit workers,” Markowitz said. “Bus and subway ridership continues to increase because transit workers make the system work better for New Yorkers. Eliminating train conductors would eliminate the system’s eyes and ears while compromising public safety, short-changing efficiency, and selling transit workers short. Now the MTA should abandon its plan to remove more clerks from token booths.”

In this photo, Markowitz was joined by Councilmember Letitia James, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, TWU Local 100 Secretary/Treasurer Ed Watt, and Assemblyman Nick Perry at an August 30 press conference outside Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, calling on the MTA to abandon plans to remove conductors from trains and clerks from token booths.