Two-Person Crews: Add It Up!

I grew up riding CTA trains when there was always Two-Person Crews. The Conductor and the Motorman. It was safer. It was faster. 

 

When I fulfilled my dream of becoming a Motorman (RTO/Rapid Transit Operator), it was quickly dashed as I realized it was almost impossible to enjoy the job as one person. I know of so many good, hard-working coworkers that no longer work here because they easily racked up merciless safety violations and stress-related injuries. 

What was once fun and exciting, became terrifying and frustrating as I feared the end of my career. Had I not made the switch to the maintenance department, I honestly think I would have been fired long ago. Thanks to many helpful supervisors and yardmasters, I dodged a few bullets. Eventually, that luck runs out.

 

At the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition, myself and others have been slowly building a foundation to fight for the return of Two-Person Crews. 

 

For almost each train trip—from one terminal to the other and back—CTA train operators and passengers experience delays. By delay, I mean any incident that prevents the operator from moving the train to each station.

Fast, efficient and safe circumstances improve the passenger and CTA worker experience.

Delays increase frustrations for passengers, exacerbate stress and/or injuries for train operators and make doing an otherwise enjoyable job, a miserable experience.

Two-Person crews—with a dedicated motorman and a dedicated conductor—is the tried-and-true solution to reducing and/or eliminating delays. For the past few years, I have been keeping track of various delays and their average duration.

While not all of the delays occur at once, they add up in different ways, depending on circumstances.

1-6 minutes: Moving emergencies/Door(s) pulled open with train not properly berthed.

1-3 minutes: Questions by riders at motorcab window, Gap Filler deployment and/or Personal Intercom Unit activation.

1-3 minutes: Workers on or near the tracks, with or without Flagmen.

1-3 minutes: Operating route selector when no Towerman on duty or going to track level to pin a track trip and wedge trailing/leading switchpoints.

1-6 minutes: Making special announcements from bulletins, checking for or responding to something requested by the Controller such as Right of Way updates, questions, lost items or suspicious persons/objects.

1-3 minutes: Walking from one side of motorcab to the other for door operation at island platforms.

1-3 minutes: Doors manually held or opened by riders or security while properly berthed.

1-6 minutes: Speed restrictions and other trouble-shooting.

 

1-10 minutes: Clearing train of passengers or walking from one end to another at terminals.

08-46 minutes: Average Cumulative Delays (Trip).

25-138 minutes: Average Cumulative Delays (Day).

02-11 hours: Average Cumulative Delays (Week).

100-550 hours: Average Cumulative Delays (Year).

The argument against two-person crews is always cynical and based in cost for the CTA. The long-term costs for CTA workers and the passengers are hinted at in the above statistics. Specifically, for the Local 308 members I serve, the forced-overtime, missed meal breaks—and more—destroys their psychological and physical well-being.

 

We cannot put a cost on the health of human beings who work at the CTA. It is truly irresponsible and immoral for ATU Local 308 to help the CTA cut costs on our backs—as was done by eliminating the Conductor job over 30 years ago.

I liken this issue to a slow-boil. You can stick your hand in a pot of cool water. However, if you apply a little flame to the pot, eventually, you will not be able to keep your hand in there!

As of now, we are in the medium-hot stage. Some can handle it. But most who do, are near retirement. 

Productivity for all workers nationwide is at historic highs. The CTA is no exception. No matter how much RTO's get paid, they cannot handle anymore burdens. The delays—and the stress that accompanies them—are making them flee the job.

It is obvious that passengers are fleeing the trains—and buses.

The solution is multi-layered. However, at the foundation must be Full-Time Jobs For All and Two-Person Crews. 

 

The CTA and ATU leadership can dance around it, avoid it or condemn it. Regardless, the Truth stands firm about its immediacy in "meeting the moment."