MTA panel on pregnant employees

MTA officials on Sunday said they’ve formed a task force to address poor accommodations for pregnant transit workers.

The move comes a week after a subway employee gave birth to a stillborn baby while working at a subway yard in Brooklyn. The woman, who worked as a conductor, had been given an alternate position working a hand switch in the yard days before the tragedy due to her pregnancy.

The task force includes high-ranking Metropolitan Transportation Authority honchos like NYC Transit human resources chief Deb Prato, head of labor relations Kim Moore-Ward and chief counsel David Farber.

The group “will review the process for pregnant women seeking accommodation, current options and put forward a series of recommendations,” said agency spokeswoman Abbey Collins.

As of Sunday the group did not include union leaders, who for years have fought the MTA’s reluctance to provide reasonable accommodation or light duty to pregnant employees.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano said he negotiated a joint “labor-management committee” to address the issue in the group’s latest contract with the MTA, which was ratified in January.

“We will reach out to the authority to set up dates to discuss the committee moving forward,” Utano said.

The MTA last year was hit with a flurry of lawsuits after several pregnant transit workers were told there were no light duty or desk positions available. Local 100 has two active lawsuits against the MTA over accommodations for pregnant employees.

“This task force will take a close look at how we can improve the process and ensure expectant mothers have the resources and support they need and deserve every step of the way at transit,” said Interim NYC Transit President Sarah Feinberg.