The 64-year-old track maintainer was working on the third rail around 10:40 p.m. on Monday when he encountered the suspect walking on the tracks.
He told the man to get off the tracks, which prompted an argument and he said that's when the suspect pulled a knife and slashed him in the neck.
"Luckily, he wasn't severely injured, but injured enough that he was punctured in his neck and required stitches," TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello said. "This was someone that was doing a general order, which is taking power off the tracks. This wasn't a station agent or a cleaner. This is just random attacks by intoxicated or mentally disturbed people."
Police are looking for a possibly homeless or suspect who may have been under the influence.
The suspect fled on the tracks.
The victim remains hospitalized at Kings County Hospital.
He is expected to recover after being slashed in the neck, just missing his trachea and esophagus.
Union President John Chiarello says subway slashings of both MTA riders and workers is an ongoing problem.
"Right from here, I'm going right to the courthouse for another assault and this continues on and on that and we are going to make sure that anyone who hurts any of our members is going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Chiarello said.
The alleged slasher is still on the loose.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber wants more transit security funding help from Washington.
"This is the money that Washington provides that goes to us and even more to the NYPD for their subway patrols. so to me, its unthinkable that Washington could be considering cutting transit security grants," Lieber said.
The transit worker slashing is leaving some riders on edge.
"This was someone that was doing a general order, which is taking power off the tracks. this wasn't a station agent or a cleaner. this is just random attacks by intoxicated or mentally disturbed people," Chiarello said.
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