BOSTON -- Transit workers are on the defensive after a Team 5 Investigates hidden camera captured bus drivers waving on passengers instead of collecting fares.

"I would concede the point that everyone who rides should pay," said Steve MacDougall, President of the Carmen's Union. "Are there extenuating circumstances where waving people on occurs? Yes."

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Team 5 Investigates also videotaped green line operators opening all doors and allowing crowds of people to get a free ride.

"Should my members be slowing service down for those paying customers?" MacDougall said. "Those people who have to get from point A to point B quickly, efficiently and safely? I think not."

But the MBTA's general manager was clear that drivers are responsible for making sure customers pay. Team 5 Investigates asked Daniel Grabauskas if there is pressure on drivers to keep on schedule.

"Well certainly we have to make sure that they maintain a schedule, but that's no excuse for not paying," Grabauskas said.

MacDougall fired back.

"Dan Grabauskas is right, it's never an excuse, it's the reason. If a bus driver is running late, and he is told at point A, just try to catch up, just get people on, that's never documented on taped airwaves. He doesn't put that in writing. It becomes a he said, she said," MacDougall said.

A T spokesman told Team 5 Investigates it does deploy workers to platforms during peak hours. They're equipped with portable validators to check fares. The T said there can be as many as 20 inspectors stationed along the green line.

"Look, I don't know that it's not true," MacDougall said. "I just know this. If they're out there, I haven't seen them either. And I ride this system. I drove on this system, I drove on the green line for 12 years, I drove a bus for a year. I know these jobs because I did these jobs."

MacDougall wasn't happy when he heard what the T plans to do about drivers caught on our hidden cameras.

"They will be brought in to see in fact if they weren't doing the job," Grabauskas said. "There will be progressive discipline."

"If management's answer to that is they are going to start disciplining my members who are caught allowing people to board quickly because we are behind schedule, because the schedules are built so tight, then shame on the MBTA," MacDougall said. "Do we have to find a solution to the fare collection issue? Absolutely."