A new report says a perk for MBTA workers that allows them to count unused sick days to pad their pensions potentially amounted to $49 million for current staff as of the end of 2014. The conservative-leaning Pioneer Institute report says Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees banked more than 380,000 unused sick days as of the end of 2014.Documents show 235 employees saved up at least 200 days of paid sick leave, 11 workers had banked at least 300 sick days and one had more than 400 sick days.Most state workers typically receive a one-time payout upon retirement for 20 percent of unused sick time.The institute calculated what both an MBTA employee and a state employee would receive for their unused sick days once retired. The report showed that if an MBTA employee's salary averages $81,000 and a state employee retires at a current salary of $82,000 and both have 150 unused sick days, the state employee received a one-time payout of $9,462 while the MBTA employee's benefit is $28,739. T officials said an arbitrator's decision granted the perk to the Boston Carmen's Union in 1975. It was later expanded to all MBTA unions.Click here to read about a report that shows chronic problems on the Red Line and problems with the Green Line expansion plan. 10978732

A new report says a perk for MBTA workers that allows them to count unused sick days to pad their pensions potentially amounted to $49 million for current staff as of the end of 2014.

The conservative-leaning Pioneer Institute report says Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees banked more than 380,000 unused sick days as of the end of 2014.


Documents show 235 employees saved up at least 200 days of paid sick leave, 11 workers had banked at least 300 sick days and one had more than 400 sick days.

Most state workers typically receive a one-time payout upon retirement for 20 percent of unused sick time.

The institute calculated what both an MBTA employee and a state employee would receive for their unused sick days once retired. The report showed that if an MBTA employee's salary averages $81,000 and a state employee retires at a current salary of $82,000 and both have 150 unused sick days, the state employee received a one-time payout of $9,462 while the MBTA employee's benefit is $28,739.

T officials said an arbitrator's decision granted the perk to the Boston Carmen's Union in 1975. It was later expanded to all MBTA unions.

Click here to read about a report that shows chronic problems on the Red Line and problems with the Green Line expansion plan.



