Excel and What Is Really Required

In Attachment C of the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("Excel"), we are shown 13 positions. Section 1.0.1 describes each one in detail.

There is no stated requirement to remain employed outside of qualification for the position. Specifically, unless you are qualifying for HVAC, Controls, Carbody, Truck Shop or General Repair, CTA management should not be forcing us to pick Technician, Leader or Instructor. This is why I have sponsored a number of grievances about it.

In my opinion, they are forcing Leader and Technician because they don't pay enough and they don't staff it enough. In fact, each of these positions should be at least 10% higher. Although there is no forcing for Instructor, I am sure they would do that too if it was not already cordoned off into another department. As it stands, Instructors rarely can pick a Shop. They are more like roving Instructors who are underpaid and ill-equipped.

The lack of seriousness for the Excel Program is evident in the extremely long delays between qualification of HVAC, Controls, Carbody and Truck Shop and zero adherence to Chicago City College Training (3.2), College Preparatory (3.4.2), Performance Reviews (3.3.8) and Excel Committee meetings (3.3). 

Regarding the Performance Reviews, this is a great argument against any writeups for low Quality Inspection scores! What Just Cause does a manager have in writing us up when we never get reviewed?

There is absolutely nothing in Attachment C requiring us to pick Technician or Leader. The force must end. The solutions are actually very simple. Any combination of the following will improve morale and participation:

1. Allow us to rescind our Leader or Technician qualification.
2. Allow us to keep the pay for our highest qualification no matter what we pick and require us to qualify for Leader and Technician without punishment if we do not pass the exams. 
3. Hire 100 more Rail Car Repairers.
4. Hire 20 more Instructors and pay them equally with all other CTA bargained for Instructors (raise the total top pay for all after that is reached). Offer $15,000 one-time bonuses to those Rail Car Repairers with 15 years of experience or more to become Instructors.
5. Follow the College Preparatory, Performance, City College training and Excel Committee portions of Attachment C.
6. No writeups for Q.I. scores without a critical Performance Review that precedes it.

What do you think? Please comment below.