Pro will be workin’ on OT railroad

The MTA is bringing in outside help to look into reports of rampant overtime abuse among Long Island Rail Road workers.

The agency’s board voted in a closed-door executive session Wednesday to appoint a special consultant to look into the issue, drawing outrage from the board’s union representative.

The appointment comes nearly two weeks after the board held an emergency meeting to address concerns of rampant overtime abuse among Metropolitan Transportation Authority employees. That meeting was held days after MTA officials sent armed police officers to LIRR workplaces to monitor employee attendance.

MTA board member Larry Schwartz, a Gov. Cuomo appointee, previously pitched the idea of bringing in a “special prosecutor” to look into overtime fraud — Wednesday’s vote instead requires a consultant to take a hard look at overtime practices within the next 60 days.

“That consultant will look into issues related to timekeeping and attendance,” said MTA Chairman Patrick Foye.

The closed-door discussion dragged on for nearly two hours. Union officials were upset the discussion of hiring the consultant was not held in public.

“Larry Schwartz continues to perpetuate this myth that there is systemic overtime abuse at New York City Transit,” said Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen. “I think he’s an absolute coward for pushing this into executive session instead of having this discussion in front of the riding public.”

Foye asserted it was legal to have the discussion on the overtime consultant behind closed doors, as it included information sensitive to an investigation.

“There is a section of state law called Open Meetings Law that tell you when you’re allowed and in some cases you’re required to go into executive session,” Foye said.