MBTA Rescinds Employee Raises

Under pressure from the Patrick administration, the MBTA has rescinded recent pay raises for more than 270 executives and non-union workers.

WBUR's Dave Faneuf reports.

MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas is rescinding the 9 percent increases and has agreed to a one-time three percent hike for non-union workers who earn less than $70,000.

The change is in response to a letter from Secretary of Transportation Bernard Cohen.

Grabauskas says he and the "T's" general counsel will not take the cost of living adjustments he says are allowed under their contracts.

The executives' raises sparked controversy last week because the cash-strapped agency has been warning of fare hikes by 2010.

Grabauskas had defended the pay increases as being in-line with union hikes over the past several years.