Union-Management Collaboration Must End at The CTA

Congratulations to my coworkers in ATU Local 308 for their promotions into the Universal Rail Supervisor craft. Although you will have some managerial responsibilities, you are in our union and are a layer of support for train service workers to get our job done safely. Please continue to help us avoid writeups.

When it comes to commendations, you deserve all that and more. We all survived the deadly First Wave of the Pandemic—as well as the hazards that our greedy employer refuses to eliminate. I have worked with many of you as a Flagman and Motorman. As a Carman (Rail Car Repairer), I worked with some of you all in the Shops. It is very inspirational to see you make this step. 

I too, have received commendations and photos when I was a Customer Assistant and Flagman. It felt great to be rewarded, no matter how much substance it lacked. In my opinion, it is important for CTA management to recognize hard working employees. Moreover, that recognition should be complemented with better pay/benefits for all and a permanent entry on our "M100" work records. 

However, for some of our elected leaders to pose in this photo with the very same managers who are responsible for the horrific working conditions and extreme punishment in which we suffer daily, is absolutely deplorable. It truly pisses me off. 

I am out here in the field helping our coworkers battle for their lives and need to know I can count on you all to back me up. The message you are sending to me and many coworkers smells of collaboration and corrupt conduct. Although I am not surprised with President Eric "The Boss" Dixon, as he has arranged a secret deal with management to illegally block me from representing you when you are being punished.

In my short time as a Local 308 Union Steward, I have dealt with enough cases to clearly understand these men and women in management—including most politicians and the Mayor of Chicago—are NOT our allies in the least! We have nothing in common with them!

My questions to the Local 308 elected leaders: 

1. Local 241 President Keith "The Anointed One" Hill is posing with managers all the time. Are you trying to compete with him in a boss-loving photo op contest?
   
   
2. What exactly are you union officers smiling about? Do you think these managers have any fear of you or what you might do when they abuse us again?
   
   
3. Do you understand that posing in photos with our bosses makes us a laughing stock among many of the least militant unions in this country?
   

Many of us are fleeing Train Operator duties because it is a hire-to-fire, two-person job that the CTA has made absolutely unbearable. It is fed through the horrible CSA and FTTF programs, which perpetuates poverty and has workers doing dangerous Full-Time work at very little pay and benefits. 

Why even spoil the moment with being in these photos? 

Let our coworkers get their kudos. But stay out of it! 

We need to know that you all do not approve of the way CTA management treats our talented, hard-working coworkers. You all need to stop sending us conflicting signals about your allegiances. 

Choose a side for God's Sake!

For decades, your "good relationships" with this stingy public transportation agency has benefited no one but a privileged few. Our membership rolls are dropping. Morale is in the toilet. Riders are fleeing and going out of their way to not ride our trains and buses.  

Members don't even vote or care about what is going on in the union because you all are so disconnected from us. You can hate my outspokenness. You can blame the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition for the disintegration of our union. You can blame the members for not being grateful that they have a job while denying any responsibility for our misery.

But when it comes to making yourselves appear to be united with CTA management in the perpetuation of poverty and dangerous working conditions, you only have yourselves to blame.