The Contract is DONE! Now what?
You heard it. Maybe you saw it. The Tentative Agreement was approved between our union lawyers and the CTA lawyers. They took some of what we wanted and some of what the employer wanted (more from our employer).
See the Tentative Agreements—for both locals—at the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition 2020 Contract Archive: https://www.scribd.com/lists/24399107/2020-Contract-Documents
Also, the official union leadership is holding various online meetings—and one 241/308 joint meeting—over the weekend. This post was made by the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition yesterday:
The following virtual and in-person meetings for Local 308 and Local 241 was posted by Sister Cassie Collins, Asst. Executive Board Member and Sister Katherine Donald-Shipp, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer (both Local 308) on another Facebook Group:
——
See your designated board members for a copy of the tentative agreement (TA).
💥Friday January 28, 2022 3pm-4:30pm 308 Zoom Meeting #1
Meeting ID: 853 4786 8482
Passcode: 357380
Dial in option: 1-312-626-6799
💥Saturday January 29, 2022 10am-12pm 308 Zoom Meeting #2
Meeting ID: 835 0627 4272
Passcode: 083751
Dial in option: 1-312-626-6799
💥Saturday January 29, 2022 1pm-3pm 308 Zoom Meeting #3
Meeting ID: 882 0582 3768
Passcode: 542785
Dial in option: 1-312-626-6799
💥Sunday January 30, 2022 11am-2pm Joint 308/241 (In-Person) Meeting
Chicago Teachers Union
1901 W Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL 60612
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Although it is not open to any 241 member that is blocked by President Keith Hill on his private FB group, he has announced a Zoom meeting for Thursday, Jan. 27th at 8pm. No link was provided.
Ironically , the directive from Local 308 to see “designated board members” for a copy of the Tentative Agreement perfectly describes why the union members are having difficulty knowing what is going on.
Local 308 has dozens of volunteer Stewards who are underutilized and—in cases where the “top” officers do not like them—totally blocked from obtaining information.
Local 241 suffers from this as well under the brutal regime of President Keith Hill—who collaborated with CTA managers to fire North Park Executive Board Member, Erek Slater and former Local 241 President, Tom Sams. He did the same to Justice Coalition co-organizer and publisher of our newsletter, Brother Eric Struch. His victims are too numerous to name here.
It is crucial that members share information with each other, plan actions and attend these meetings.
However, these meetings are typically sales and marketing charades in order to stifle dissent and criticism of a pro-status quo Contract.
So we recommend that members plan an agenda about what direction you want to go from here. Explore options. Research the struggle of other unions.
Vote no and give up to an Arbitrator or vote yes and hold your nose are NOT the only options.
This Contract is bad. Regardless, the members must decide democratically the path forward—and prepare two steps ahead.
Where there is no struggle, there is no progress.
If you are unable to access any of the 2019 or 2020 (now 2023) TA’s, proposals or updates, we keep an updated archive here: https://www.scribd.com/lists/24399107/2020-Contract-Documents
And at www.chicagotransitworker.com
The Justice Coalition will be hosting our first Strike Force Bowling Party and viewing event of the Zoom meetings this Saturday:
I truly hope the members of 241/308 overthrow the leadership on Sunday. I know that statement will earn me possible expulsion from the Amalgamated Transit Union. At this point, I don't care. During the past two years, we are basically told to send in our requests and the elected leadership will decide for us.
No real Contract Campaign. No real accountability. They just act like benevolent dictators.
As we report all the violations of President Dixon and President Hill, International President John Costa seems to not care at all.
I am embarrassed, angry and frustrated.
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