Notice of Further Intolerance to CTA Management (NOFI)

Dear CTA employees and officers in management, labor relations and the law department: We ATU members work very, very hard to be safe and do our jobs for the great people of our city with honor.

We proved our worthiness beyond a doubt during the Pandemic.

Some of you have seen me stumble around to find my way at the nation's second largest public transportation agency. You know how far I've come. I now am very clear about the dangerous, irresponsible safety culture and inappropriate labor relations that go on at the CTA.

I am a Local 308 union steward and an ATU Delegate who is proud to safely inspect and repair trains at the CTA.

I am not going to tolerate you disrespecting, threatening write-ups or violence against my union coworkers in my presence. Be careful what you say and how you treat these good people—especially the vulnerable Second Chancers and Part-Timers.

I am not your typical union person that seeks to have cozy relationships with you and politicians.

Some of you are making me very angry while you play fast-and-loose with lives and careers. Some of you are pitting union members against each other to benefit yourselves.

This is unacceptable.

As some of you know, I will be cordial at first. But if you choose belligerence, I will be compelled to use documentation, stronger language and help the members organize action for their safety.

Unlike a few of you, I have no need to threaten violence or engage in violence to make my point.

But you can count on me to uphold the principles of non-violence and civil disobedience in helping my coworkers defend their dignity and enforce the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

By the way, I am not alone. There are more like me—and more who are awakening to their potential as the new vanguard for worker safety and dignity at the CTA.