Transit workers made their beef with MTA Chairman Pat Foye public at the agency's monthly board meeting Wednesday.

"We are asking you to recuse yourself. Sit down, we cannot any further discuss anything with you," one worker said.

They're angry that they've been working under an expired contract since May and upset by the MTA's most recent demands for givebacks.

The MTA chief, meanwhile, kept his cool.

"If I wanted a job where I was universally loved, I would have done something else," Foye told reporters after the meeting. "And I think unions have had problems with MTA chairs in the past. I think it goes with the job and beyond that, not negotiating in public."

Facing staggering deficits, the MTA is offering a four year contract that would hike wages by two percent a year.

The MTA also wants workers to double their health insurance contributions up to four percent of their salary, and pay overtime only after a 40-hour week, instead of after an eight-hour shift.

The MTA also wants to fill some jobs with part-time workers and contracted help.

"This board continues to play hardball with our contract," a transit worker told the MTA board.

The union says it's been two weeks since it negotiated face-to-face with the MTA.

A sit-down had been scheduled last week, but was canceled after Foye sent union leader Tony Utano a scathing email about a prescription drug proposal the MTA chief derided as the "Utano Specialty Drug Scam."

Foye ended the email by writing, "Have a peaceful Columbus Day," which the union called a swipe at Italian-Americans.

"You let this man lead you down the road to ruin or you take him out of negotiations," said J.P. Patafio, a union representative for bus drivers.

Some members of the rank-and-file are threatening a strike, but such an action would be illegal and likely trigger huge financial penalties for the union.

Transit workers plan to fill the streets outside MTA headquarters on Oct. 30 to rally for a new contract.