And I have to pay the MTA tax?

You also pay for the Department of Education.

"The Times articles reported that virtually every career employee of the railroad was applying for and receiving disability payments, giving the Long Island Rail Road a disability rate of three to four times that of the average railroad. The Times found that retired railroad employees who had successfully claimed disability were regularly playing golf at a state-owned course without charge — another perquisite of their disability."

"...responsible for 86 percent of the disability applications filed before 2008, running what amounted to 'disability mills'..."

"Between 1998 and 2008, Dr. Ajemian recommended more than 839 Long Island Railroad employees for disability while Dr. Lesniewski recommended at least 222, according to the complaint. Both were board-certified orthopedists."

They need to investigate every single one of these disability claims and recover the money. Just putting them in jail only cost us more money.

Totally agree with Sunday. And the MD's who facilitated this should lose their license.

New York union mafia. What's new here? Crime and corruption as a modus operandi. If you want worse: Floridaaaaaa.

ANd yet, if your a subnway employee and you even call in sick, the MTA sends someone to your house to verify it. Since the beginning of time, the MTA has treated their rail road employeees far better than subway employees.

If you think LIRR employees have it so good, then why don't you quit whining and become one yourself. Your in luck. They are currently hiring for locomotive engineer:

Title: Locomotive Engineer Trainee
Department: Transportation Services
Post Date: 10/20/2011
Close Date: 11/02/2011
Hay Point Evaluation: NA
100% Hourly Rate of Pay: $35.189* (See Wage Progression Chart)
Position Classification: Safety Sensitive
Location: Various
Reports To: Road Foreman
Union Affiliation: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
Summary
Responsible for the safe and efficient movement of trains.
Responsibilities
-Ensure the safe and efficient movement of trains.
-Required to qualify and remain qualified on the Rules of the Operating Department, Timetable, Special Instructions and Physical Characteristics of the entire Railroad and Zone A (Amtrak) and Norac; Air Brake instructions and all equipment including MU, Diesel and Dual Mode.
-Control the movement of trains under all operating conditions as well as instruct and supervise Engineer Trainees.
-Road trouble-shooting of all equipment and perform safety checks and tests before starting trips.
-Maintain customer safety and comfort at all times.
-Work effectively with all team members, especially train crews.
Qualifications
-A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent (GED) approved by a State's Department of Education or recognized accredited organization.
-Must demonstrate high motivation and initiative.
-Must possess strong customer service and communication skills.
-Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.

Preferred/Desirable Skills/Qualifications:
-Successful completion of the LIRR's - Introduction to Operations Rules & Procedures Training class (Basic Skills).
-Prior supervisory or leadership experience. Demonstrated mechanical/electrical background.
-College degree or some college credits.

Training Program:

Phase 1: Training consists of a six (6) week non-compensated training program. Class days and times will be determined, in part, based on availability of class participants and instructors. For the duration of Phase 1, participating LIRR employees will remain in their current LIRR position and must attend training classes on their own time and NOT on Company time. Phase 1 training will include quizzes and examinations, which must be passed in order to move on to the next phase of training.

Phase 2: Training consists of a minimum of 12 months full-time compensated training. Upon commencement of Phase 2, current LIRR employees will officially transfer to the position of Engineer Trainee. Phase 2 Training will include qualifying exams on the operating rules, physical characteristics of the LIRR Transportation Services Department, air brake, and train handling. Failure to obtain a passing grade on the mandatory exams will result in termination from the Training Program.

The representatives of the Training & Transportation Services Departments and the Locomotive Engineer Review Board will evaluate applicants throughout the Program. Pre-established expectations and standards must be met in order to continue as a trainee. Successful completion of the Engineer Trainee Program is mandatory to commence employment as a Locomotive Engineer.
Pay,Benefits, & Work Schedule
We offer competitive salaries and an excellent, comprehensive benefits package, including:

- Full Medical Coverage
- Dental Coverage
- Vision Care
- Life Insurance
- Comprehensive Sick Leave Benefits
- Deferred Compensation
- Vacation/Personal Leave Days
- Transportation Pass Privileges
- Tuition Assistance Reimbursement
- Pension Plan
- In-house training seminars

>why don't you quit whining and become one yourself.

Who do you have to know and pay off to get it?

>If you think LIRR employees have it so good,

How come their rate of "disability" is so much higher than Metro North?

"How come their rate of "disability" is so much higher than Metro North?"

Because, umm, umm, Long Island is more dangerous than upstate? Yeah, that's it. More dangerous, or something like that...

Ummmmm.more scams yes.
I was in major metro of Europe this week. Line 1 of subway carries 750k people a day. Yet no conductor. All automated. Why don't we have that here instead of the constant scamming by those people.

jail? how about death penalty?

Why doesn't the union come out and make some statements about this scamming?

This thread deserves more attention.

Yes, this week we have the LIRR fraud, and NYPD ticket fixing on the front pages.

It's the mountains.

gcondo: "how about death penalty?"

What should the people from the article below get then?

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/25/nyc-cops-arrested-in-connection-with-gun-smuggling-take-down/

%u201CA gang of police officers who should have been keeping guns off the street %u2014 instead smuggled 20 firearms into the city.%u201D

its all the fault of movies like training day and the godfather

What's wrong with cops smuggling guns into NYC? They are protecting the 2nd Amendment! They should get the NRA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cops smuggling guns into NYC just follows the pattern of Eric Holder and the BATF's Fast and Furious program: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67092.html

It'd be enough to get the cops to stop parking illegally in front of precincts. They are not nearly as special as they think they are.

Fraud at all levels. But on the positive side, isn't it great how the unions are now getting along with management. Everyone wins!
----------------

A $1 billion disability scam pioneered by a one-time MTA board member helped hundreds of retired LIRR workers enjoy their golden years with an illegal gold mine.

The massive ripoff steered more than 1,000 Long Island Rail Road workers to corrupt doctors who created bogus medical histories, letting the railroad robbers double-dip on their pensions, a federal complaint charged.

Orthopedists Peter Ajemian and Peter Lesniewski were arrested Thursday for running "disability mills" that provided a monthly payoff to the healthy - and greedy - workers. The feds also busted Ajemian's office manager, Maria Rusin, who collapsed in Manhattan Federal Court at her bail hearing. In all 11 were charged.

Their co-defendants, all arrested Thursday, include a former MTA board member/union president, a one-time official with the Railroad Retirement Board and a half-dozen ex-LIRR employees.

"This was a game where every retiree was a winner," said Janice Fedarcyk, head of the FBI's New York office, after the arrests capped a three-year probe.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/feds-arrest-11-people-connected-multimillion-dollar-lirr-pension-scam-article-1.968254#ixzz1cFuEFYtK

MTA employee's botched 'inside job' causes millions in damage; tried to steal machinery to pay off IRS debt
By LORENA MONGELLI
Last Updated: 3:37 PM, August 28, 2013
Posted: 1:37 PM, August 28, 2013
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/crime/one_man_hurricane_claims_medication_daJyuqMw2uJVRo2uu9E9CM