The MBTA board heard plenty of pushback from employees and union officials questioning if using a private vendor to maintain fare collection would result in actual savings.
Chief Operating Officer Brian Shortsleeve says the agency will try to find other jobs at the T for displaced workers but still needs to reduce so-called "corporate" costs like fare collection.
"Long term, the goal would be that 650 corporate positions look more like 400 corporate positions," he said.
The MBTA has already heard from a number of companies interested in taking over fare collection from the 165 T workers like Antrynette Hobbs of Mattapan, working in the central "money room”.
"You want a better employee, that's all," she said. "I just want you to put a face to a job you're about to cut."
The board will have to approve any move to privatize part of the agency.
