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The agents handed in their badges and uniforms Friday morning at the Transit Learning Center in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

"We came to this job thinking we had job security, beautiful benefits," said one MTA worker. "We left good jobs for this. Now we're getting canned."

"I've heard people, 'oh, you guys can apply for welfare,'" said another. "Welfare? Are you crazy? Unemployment is $405, after taxes I think it's $350. I can't support my family of five with that a week."

"I've shed so many tears already," said a third. "So how many more? It gets to a certain point where you can't be angry, you can't be mad, you just have to hope for the future. You know, I'm hoping we'll come back."

A court order blocked the layoffs for several weeks, while the TWU argued the move would put riders' safety at risk. But the MTA Board met last week and voted to go ahead with the layoffs to help close its $900 million budget deficit.

The MTA this year has eliminated more than 3,000 administrative and operating positions.

"It's more than about the union, it's about the riding public. And every time Jay Walder pulls a station agent out of the system, he exposes New York City Transit riders to more risk," said Transport Workers Union President John Samuelsen.

Those who turned in their badges and uniforms Friday will not receive severance pay.

Many of those laid off had been pulling in between $55,000 and $65,000 a year. The TWU says it has a temporary plan in place to cover health insurance costs for those being let go.

"Our members that lost their health insurance, we just came up with a plan within ourselves and we all kicked in $10 a pay period just to keep our 3,500 members that are laid off with health insurance all right," said Joe Sclafani of the TWU. "It shows you the fortitude of our membership and it was done in a very quick motion."

To help cover the cost of their medical insurance over the next six months, current TWU members will be kicking in $10 extra every paycheck.

Meanwhile, straphangers say without the booth agents, they're concerned for their safety.

"Subways have seemed pretty safe in the last 10 years, but lately you see more and more people being attacked and pushed in the subway," said one subway rider. "It's apparent the MTA has kind of dropped the ball on their end."

"There's no safety, no police, there's nobody to watch the booth and someone could get hurt," said another.

Hearings will be held next month on the MTA's proposal to raise the fare for the monthly MetroCard.

It would go from $89 a month to $99, and cap the number of rides to 90. Or, the MTA could decide on a $104 monthly card that would offer unlimited rides.