More CTA Savagery: No Running Water

UPDATE: As of October 28th, water was restored—over a week later. 

This will be one week that the Repairers, Servicers, Motor Blowers and Switchmen at the Orange Line Midway Maintenance Shop will have no running water. This started on October 21st.

No running water at Midway Shop. 

No running water at Midway Shop.

Should I write it again?

Whose fault is it? The "City," the CTA, the Airport, Trxmp, Biden or maybe it was me!

In the course of a day, possibly 100 employees work and/or go through there. 

If a fire breaks out, the sprinkler system may not function. This is a danger to life. It is a violation OSHA Fire protection code 1926.150(b)(1):

A temporary or permanent water supply, of sufficient volume, duration, and pressure, required to properly operate the firefighting equipment shall be made available as soon as combustible materials accumulate.  

We have hundreds and thousands of pounds and gallons of combustible materials in this shop. It's part of our day-to-day work. 

Ironically, in the parking spaces for our managers, we have two nasty little porta-potties with two cutesy wash stations. I think that is an appropriate placement. As they don't give a shxt about us, they deserve to have it deposited in their parking spaces.

Here are some reasons why I am angry about this situation:

1. We get filthy in working on these filthy trains. Repairers, Servicers and Motor Blowers. We need showers because there are hazardous materials in our clothing, hair and skin that can sicken our family members.
2. We are totally exposed to the public and easy targets for robbery, rape or assault.
   
3. The grease from the trains we work on require an intense amount of hot water and soap. 
4. Servicers cannot deep clean the train. No water. No detergent. How many trains will sit in the yard with dried human waste on them?
5. It is getting cold outside. I don't need to explain the consequences of frigid air, water and humans.
6. Articles 13.33 and 14.1(c) of our Collective Bargaining Agreement are being violated. 
7. OSHA employee toilet regulations are being skirted.
    

This is not an aberration. We had the same problem at the Green Line Harlem/Lake Rail Maintenance Shop and the Blue Line Rail Maintenance Shop. We had it at 95th Terminal. We had no hot water for weeks at Howard Rail Maintenance Shop a two years ago. We had Linden Terminal with no heat or hot water for months last year. 

Disinvestment in the workers and abuse is plaguing the CTA. It is the root cause of terrible service for the riders. You cannot separate the two parts of this whole issue.

We can no longer tolerate this crap. We must have dignified, sanitary toilet facilities such as the Restroom Trailer types (picture below) or the affected work locations must be shuttered and the workers sent home with pay.

The inability for workers to rest and work safely at the CTA can lead to nothing good for anyone. 

Workers, please contact President Dixon and demand he support holding the CTA to the Collective Bargaining Agreement or resign immediately (edixon@atu308.org and 773-842-3911)‬. Riders, please contact the CTA and demand they respect our health, safety and dignity.