A city transport workers union official claims train operators are working without the proper safety gear.
In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and top MTA bosses Joe Lhota and Ronnie Hakim, TWU Local 100 Vice President Kia Phua said thousands of train conductors and operators are using expired safety masks.
Phua also alleged that some workers do not have masks at all.
MTA officials said shipment of the new masks has been delayed because the vendor needed to give priority to orders from the U.S. Military and State Department.
They are expected to be delivered by the end of the month.
Subway workers are supposed to wear safety masks when leading customers through the tunnels in case of emergency.
Just last month, hundreds of people had to be led back to a subway platform on the tracks when an A train derailed in Harlem.