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Protesters: MBTA Cuts Risk 'T' Station Cleanliness, Safety

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Friday, June 20, 2014   

BOSTON - Transit station cleaners and their supporters will be marching to protest planned job cuts, which they say would put the health and safety of both workers and 'T' riders in jeopardy.

The cuts could not have come at a worse time, according to Roxana Rivera, District 615 director of 32-BJ SEIU, the union representing transit workers, because the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is trimming its cleaning crews at the same time it is extending service.

"Workers going from two stations to four and five," she said, "and that will put workers at risk for health and safety issues - but also, that puts the public at risk."

Rivera said more than 50 state lawmakers have sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Richard Davey urging the Transit Authority and MBTA Board of Directors "to take all necessary steps to ensure that it does not go forward with its current plan."

'T' station cleaner Jorge Rivera says it already is stressful cleaning up after people who were sick or bleeding. In his view, there's no way workers will be able to work safely and keep the public safe if they are forced to clean up to twice as many stations during their shift.

"Myself, I find needles that any kid can reach and get hurt," he said. "If they have more work and less people, that's something that you can't do like you want to do it, to be able to do better service. That's my concern."

Roxana Rivera said hundreds are expected to show solidarity with transit station cleaners in a march on Saturday.

"We're going to be starting at the State Transportation building and marching to the Boston Commons," she said. "Basically, our main message is, 'MBTA, don't make a mess. Keep the T safe and clean.' "

It is estimated that workers at as many as 17 Boston T stations face losing their jobs.


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