The Beatings Continue at the CTA

A coworker was punched in the face at Howard Terminal. At the same location and night, another coworker was punched repeatedly and dragged out of the booth. 

Fortunately, neither died. One was hospitalized. 

As usual, the Local 308 President is silent. 

If we get any word from him, it may only be about some mysterious “CTA Police Force” he and the Local 241 president are “pushing.”

And then what?

The bus and rail system is being flooded with people whose lives are destroyed and have nothing to lose. Instead of investing $800 billion USD for wars, why can’t we invest in education, jobs, healthcare and good housing?

At the CTA, they just posted openings for Part Time bus operators. Part-Time? More like Poverty Time. Poverty is at the root of crime. 

The violence against us will only worsen until we admit that investment in policing, jails and wars hurt us in the long-term. 

We need Full Time Jobs For All and Two Person Crews more than ever if we are to chip away at crime and make significant headway.

This article was originally written in January, 2023.