We Need A Strike Authorization Vote Now

By Jack Carter Jr., Undercover CTA Maintenance Worker

A strike is the only way forward. We will never get our conditions met or have any chance of a good contract without the actual threat of a strike. 

Members need to start realizing that our union leadership at the top is not looking out for our best interests. The only way to force their hand is by a strike authorization vote and a grassroots movement that gains momentum. 

Management—through their tactics—have the Rail Car Repairers conditioned to believe that we are weak and have no power because our own union never truly backs us. 

That needs to change. 

If everyone could start believing that we actually have tremendous power, things could really change for the better. Many fights with management in the Shops could have been won and changed the course for us. 

We could have gotten the respect we deserve if the weak people could have just followed the strong. 

The big problem in our department is most people are scared. So they just accept abuse as the norm. 

I have to give it to the mismanagement though: The minority has been able to control the majority through fear, overtime, pizzas, etc. 

The opinions expressed by guest bloggers here or in Shop Talk newsletter are not necessarily the opinion or sanctioned policies and actions by Brother Eric Curtis Muhammad Basir, ATU Local 308 members, elected leadership or stewards. In the spirit of the First Amendment and the ATU Obligation, all CTA workers and supporters are welcome to submit content of any point-of-view for this blog. Real identies will be hidden upon request.