The MTA says "miscommunication" is to blame for a spat between bus depot management and workers over lowering flags to half-staff in honor of fallen FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy.
The Transport Workers Union says workers lowered the flag at the MTA's Kingsbridge bus depot Wednesday morning before the MTA's approval.
The union says employees were ordered by management to raise the flag back up or face suspension.
Workers say they lowered the flag after hearing Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered flags to fly at half-staff, but they were told by management that only Governor Andrew Cuomo can give that order to the MTA.
Some workers NY1 spoke with defended their actions.
"The man died a hero as far as I’m concerned, protecting New York. The city of New York should be thankful that we have firefighters like him," said Tim Reilly, an MTA facilities maintainer.
"We told them us to write us up, take us out of service. We’re not putting the flag back up because one of our firefighters lost his life," said Mark Massa, an MTA facilities maintainer.
The MTA says all flags at its facilities have since been lowered.