MBTA Touts Reduced Absenteeism, Overtime

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is citing progress in reducing employee absenteeism and overtime costs.

New figures from the MBTA on Monday show the average of daily unscheduled absences for bus and train operators was 29 percent lower in the first two months of this year than during the entire 2015 calendar year.

Absenteeism among fulltime bus drivers is reportedly down 33 percent.

Officials of the financially strapped agency say overtime and missed bus and rail trips are directly linked to absenteeism.

The T says it spent an average of $119,000 per day in overtime in January and February, compared to an average of $154,000 per day in 2015.

Missed bus trips fell by 40 percent and there were also 37 percent fewer dropped rail trips in January and February.