The Enemy of The Union

It has been one year into the Union Steward thing. I have learned so much!

I will have directly served a little less than 50 human beings since last summer, when I completed the union steward class (I had to literally protest with a bullhorn to get in that class). The most enlightening experiences I have are when I witness stuff some CTA managers do to humiliate and destroy workers careers. 

From totally false writeups to death threats against workers, it is clear that the CTA has absolutely no control of their managers. Gross ineptitude, fast-and-loose interpretation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, work rules and imposition of warlord-like fiefdoms is common. The union member employees are being terrorized.

I feel bad that I cannot give more attention to those who reach out to me. But I only have two days off—and I give much of it in service to them and educating myself. I also am under intense scrutiny and threats by management and union sellouts. 

 

At times, I feel lonely and vulnerable. Yet there is always someone who smiles and offers an encouraging word. Some take initiative on bold things that inspire me. As I help others—and encourage them—they help and encourage me. Fellow organizers in the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition are my biggest support in staying focused, positive and militant.

More and more of my personal time off is spent in service to others. I actually enjoy it. But it does take a toll on my life outside of work.

My biggest opponent at the CTA is not management (although they certainly find me very annoying). It is actually the president of our own Local 308: Brother Eric Dixon. I voted for him to be our president (I did not have the time at the CTA to understand that he would end up being as bad as Brother Ken Franklin). 

 

We used to have long conversations about working conditions and membership meetings. He briefed me and other Flagmen at Kimball. He even wanted me to run for office—but was too scared of angering Deborah "Get Cosey With The Boss" Lane by nominating me for her spot. Like Local 241 President, Keith Hill, many fear her wrath.

Like Boss Franklin before him, he recognized that I have some skills and experience that would benefit our union. I also have a heart to share information and empower people to do great things. But, like Boss Franklin, he wanted to use me for selfish purposes—to have a loyal surrogate who never disagrees or questions him.

I am not a usable man. I don't care about your title. I believe the highest authority in our union is the membership. If I disagree with you, I will let you know. And I will inform others of what they need to know in order to not be screwed over. I am a Muslim and am only used by Allah (God). Not union officials, politicians or anyone else.

What makes President Dixon's conduct so bad is that he actually lets members get harmed by the CTA just because I do not worship him as some kind of boss over us. He can very easily release me from work and use our dues money to pay me for a lost day of work as a repairman. 

 

However, whenever I can help members who demand my presence to fight unfair treatment, he sometimes makes sure they get punished! His excuses for not releasing me run the gamut from outright contradictory to outright lies.

Even if I show up with a member when I am off duty, he, or his loyalist officers—like Aqua Fisher—go to the manager and make a scene to keep me out. This is not normal. This is not good.

So while he feels good acting like a manager who denies members' Weingarten Rights, he is actually hurting our entire community of rail workers at the CTA. Unfortunately, for him, I am building up a stack of evidence upon which to put charges on him. I intend to make a case for his removal from office before the end of the year. Hopefully, others will be doing something similar.

The process is slow—and made that way because of all the extra work I must do to help members who he and other corrupt officers have neglected. 

 

Imagine this: I work with you for days, weeks or months on your case. Instead of me in the meeting with you in the manager's office, it will be another officer—who may or may not want to help you. But I am giving that officer information about your case—or briefing you on how to handle the meeting.

I do not enjoy being at odds with Brother President Eric Dixon. I have good memories from those conversations on the Brown Line. He was helpful. He was reliable. We disagreed on issues of Revolutionary Unionism and direct-democracy. Still, we had some common interests: We need to preserve the integrity of Local 308.

I often imagine what I would do if the opportunity to reconcile with President Dixon would present itself. Honestly, I would do it. I prefer peace—especially with union officers. How long would the peace last, only Allah (God) knows. In order to maintain that peace, he would need to stop violating members Weingarten Rights and doing undemocratic "out of order" interference with motions that we bring and get seconded.

 

However, from my experience with maintaining peaceful relations with the Vice Presidents, Sister Pennie and Brother Mark—I know it is possible. We also disagree philosophically. They were very much proponents of the 2020 Tentative Agreement. I was very much an opponent. 

 

Yet, somehow, they manage to separate their objections to me from the needs of the members who I serve. Ironically, it has always been Brother Mark who reached out to me during my two bouts with Covid-19. He has facilitated motions I have brought to the floor. While other officer trash my proposals, he reads and acknowledges them. He has reached out to me with other efforts. 

 

In general, Brother Mark respects the membership and democracy. If he can do it, so can Brother Eric Dixon.

 

Regardless of your dislike and disapproval of militant union members like me, I implore my coworkers and other union officials: Please stop siding with managers against the members. 

 

I know you feel sympathy and want fair treatment for all. Maybe you get special treatment if you make friends with managers and coordinators. 

 

This will always be true: There is no equality between the worker and employer!

 

Our real enemy is not me, Brother Aundra Thompson, Brother Eric Dixon, Brother Ken Franklin, Brother Keith Hill, Sister Deborah, Sister Toi or their loyalist officers. The real enemy are the warmongering billionaire bloodsuckers of the poor and their agents at City Hall and CTA headquarters.

Let's stand against injustice—even if it comes from our own leadership. Still, do not forget who controls them. Let's be a real union. Not a personality cult of corruption and avarice. Let's take control of our union and make the officials serve us or resign.