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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority voted on Thursday to approve a 5 year contract with a private cash collection company, Brink’s. The $18.7 million deal will replace current union workers who are assigned to the MBTA's cash collection department and save the agency $8.6 million. The MBTA’s cash collections department has been criticized for many years for its errors and mishandling of receipts. The Boston Carmen’s Union represents a majority of the unionized cash collections workers to be replaced, and its president has said they will not back down in the fight against privatization. As a result, the union held protests in front of the MBTA’s cash collection facility this morning. Tensions escalated as protesters padlocked the facility’s gate and blocked collection trucks from entering the premises, resulting in the arrest of 7 union officials for unlawful assembly.