Struggling Mass.Public Trans: Executives Get a 9% pay raise

Overpaid Government Worker

The MBTA's general manager gave a 9 percent raise to 240 executive employees this week after warning just a week ago that a financial crisis could spur a significant fare increase in 2010.

Daniel A. Grabauskas said the raises match the salary increases that union employees are receiving after going two years without a contract and three years without a cost-of-living increase. But his decision to include managers - who make an average of $83,650 - is sparking criticism, given the T's dire finances.

"The agency's broke," said Senator Robert L. Hedlund, a Weymouth Republican who serves on the Transportation Committee. "It's amazing in this day and age [that] management is never asked to sacrifice."

Couldn't they get someone to work for cheaper?