Secret Negotiations = Terrible Agreement

12/29 UPDATE: See my memorandum to the ATU Chicago members about my recommendation to vote no.

The past 24 hours felt like a bodyslam out of nowhere from our union presidents. Over a year of secret meetings—with a Contract-extension and pathetic raises—have infuriated ATU Chicago members. 

See the ongoing results of an anonymous poll I launched on Dec. 23rd.

My department in particular is totally insulted. Just two weeks ago, we democratically directed President Pennie to get our demand for prevailing wages as Rail Car Repairers. We have been literally sacrificing to back those demands and she just spits in our faces!

This hideous TA (Terrible Agreement) was not unexpected. However, the timing was definitely a surprise. Typically, the ATU boss agents take years to come up with a finely-crafted piece of Contract crap.

This time it was a matter of months. 

We are supposed to vote on it on January 7th. Hopefully—this time around—they will have serial numbers on the ballots and not hand out pencils! 

It is obvious that the CTA mismanagement and their union agents are scared to death about the rising dissent and militancy that is growing among the workers.

Here are some of the comments from the ongoing anonymous poll (submit your entry here at this link):

• 25% or better
• Not making sense!! Wow. So u really didn’t fight for anything😡🤔🫥
• We can do better!! For our Repair Men!!
• Unacceptable and an insult to our department!
• shameful, under industry standard, feels like the "historic" 4% was a carrot to get us to shut up + accept anything
• Pennies maybe that’s why she likes it
• This sucks!!! We must impeach pennie
• Its not enough for all we go through with passengers and with the steady increase in cost of living. That 4% raise got ate up quick with the increase in union dues and the increase in the already high health insurance. Family plan Health Insurance has gone up $20 each of the last three years.

The the results for more comments.

Examine this this elegant sales brochure that was crafted by the CTA Lie Department for our presidents to sign and sell to the poor CTA workers:

I am inviting ATU members to participate in my Shop Worker virtual union meetings. We are moving fast and furious to liberate ATU Local 308—and eventually ATU Local 241—from CTA control. Our next one is December 28th at 6:30 pm. These meetings are our launching pad in my mission to help members control their own union. 

If you are already registered, you are receiving email updates and will receive the login details already.

If you are not receiving email updates from me, use this form to get started: