NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- They're called "G-days."
Metro-North Railroad engineers are assured of a certain number of guaranteed days of employment each month. In January, according to the Journal News, that resulted in engineers getting paid for 664 shifts in which they never left their houses.
The MTA says those backups are needed in case someone calls out in the last minute. But State Sen. David Carlucci isn't buying it.
"We're wasting taxpayer dollars and carepayer dollars," Carlucci said. "Metro-North has a policy that's just backwards."
While Metro-North is dealing with too many engineers, Carlucci is seeing trains in his Rockland County district canceled because New Jersey Transit has too few engineers.
The Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines are operated by New Jersey Transit under contract with Metro-North.
"There's just a shortage because of the policy put in place by Metro-North," Carlucci said. "It just doesn't add up, it doesn't make sense."
The engineers' union has come out with a proposal for Metro-North and New Jersey Transit to share engineers on those west of the Hudson lines and Carlucci says it's common sense.
"Put the employees where they're most needed," Carlucci said.
The Journal News reports talks between the union and the MTA have broken down as they can't agree on who would get those additional shifts, but Carlucci says he's still hopeful something could be worked out.