CTA Mismanagement: Stop Abusing Train Operators!

As a Local 308 union steward, I have witnessed so many CTA train operator coworkers break down from this job. They are doing the job of multiple people for five trips back and forth through a stressful city of widespread poverty every day! 

It’s traumatizing!

This One Person Train Operation (OPTO) crap is stupid! For you CTA mismanagers—and union bosses—to justify its existence based on a LIE that we the workers "made it happen" and we "make it work," is proof of your ignorance and greed. 

FACT: We were SOLD OUT in 1997-1999 by Local 308 president Jerry Williams (who members voted out and who the CTA rewarded with a manager job). 

Y’all even lied, saying the RTOs would get an OPTO premium—knowing full well that would be a slap in the face of bus operators. 

FACT: You make the hellish working conditions that dehumanize us. 

You pit RTO vs. RTO, RTO vs. Customer Assistant, RTO vs. Flagman and RTO vs. rider. 

Load and Go. 

More trips. 

More duties and responsibilities. 

Defective loaner radios. 

No sick days. 

Filthy break rooms and bathrooms. 

FMLA harassment. 

No decent food. 

Forced overtime. 

Eight car trains all day and night. 

Making us do Towerman and Switchman work. 

The list is endless. 

MOST of the delays we have would not exist if we had #TwoPersonCrews. I broke it down mathematically in the article, Two-Person Crews: Add It Up. 

Just admit: OPTO has screwed the RTOs, the CTA and our riders. You all need to quit making this crap work before you completely destroy rail operations at the CTA!