Is It Time To End The Unpaid Lunch?

UPDATE (3/28/2025): Video version below this update. President Pennie's ghost-writing CTA lawyer has cancelled our Mark 30th meeting with a convenient excuse of blaming a boogeyman for the end of "negotiations" regarding Unpaid Lunch. See it for yourself here. The Truth is—as proven on the recording—the "entire discussion" wasn't posted and she is constantly breaking bylaws (as I have documented). Regardless, I have offended some members. It was sincerely expressed to me in a phone call and in-person today. I apologized to them and said I would apologize here, publicly: As an elected union leaders, it is very important to take responsibility for our actions—especially when they lead to unintended consequences. I truly despise our president—for many reasons which I shall not belabor here—and felt a need to expose her for sabotaging an initiative and blaming it on me. But I was wrong to allow my anger to get ahead of rationality. I was wrong. For that I apologize to the members who were offended. I will attempt to do better. I will leave this article and related video online as to be accountable—and allow all to judge as they see fit. Regardless, my very open agenda to help members liberate Local 308 from CTA control must never, ever get derailed by my anger with the tyrants who are selling us out. I hope you accept my apology and consider the weight of my mistakes versus the record of my service. 

UPDATE (3/25/2025): The flier for the March 30th Unpaid Lunch Q&A and VOTE has been posted by the president and her assistants on various Facebook Groups. Access the flier here. The link is not accessible through the JPG or PDF versions, nor does it work. I recommend using the Zoom general access address (https://www.zoom.us/join) and then manually entering the Meeting ID and Passcode she provided in the flier: 

85097218749 (Meeting ID) 760121 (Passcode)

This is a positive initiative. However, it may eliminate Article 12.1 wash-up time and our lawful two 10-minute breaks. Giving that up can hurt us. Regardless, that should be no problem because every employer honors two paid ten minute breaks and paid lunch. This is why we need to see a proposed memorandum of understanding long before the vote. Ideally, NOW. What about those who are on duty at that time. How do they vote? Let's discuss this important vote in-person on Saturday, March 29th at 10:30. Be at Culver's on 3355 S. MLK Jr. Drive. 

UPDATE (3/22/2025): I was able to get in almost for 10 minutes before Peppermint Pennie cut me off again at the end (I think she kicked me off total of 4-5 times). The first time she cut me off happened after I changed my Zoom Avatar to "Fxxx CTA Mismanagement." I remained silent each and every time I tried to log in and was dropped. 

Thanks to those who complained to her about cutting me off. After trying to lay blame on me for low turnout to her zoom call, despite my publishing it in newsletter, online and through email, I sent her and VP Weems 200 email addresses of Shop Workers who I am directly in contact with through my Virtual Union Hall for her to promote ANOTHER meeting. Before she formally started the meeting, she asked about my efforts to promote the meeting. Yet she did not want to hear the defense of my efforts and her blocking me from visiting shops. She did not cut me off. It was only after I changed my avatar that she cut me off.

However, this next meeting—whenever it is—will be going to be a VOTE. Exactly how the vote would occur was never finalized. She refused to honor my request to provide the exact wording of the changes—which would likely be a Memorandum of Understanding. Her claim was that only the members who attend the zoom call will be allowed to read it and that "management" would be knowing what we do if I distribute it to the members. She implied that members cannot be trusted. 

Many on the call were supportive, but VP Weems advocated for the CTA mismanagement to take away our contractual wash-up time and lawful two-10 minute breaks. 

In my opinion, there is no reason why we need to give anything up if we fight for it. But now that will be up to you all. The reality of being at work 2.5 hours longer each week makes no sense. Still, I don't want to give up anything in the Contract. However, since Pennie and Mark essentially represent the CTA mismanagement's needs, it seems that we have no choice. Regardless, before we vote on it we should have time to totally examine whatever Pennie and CTA mismanagement will sign. On that point, I hope you do not disagree.

 
On March 22nd at 10am, President Pennie wants to meet with Rail Car Servicers, Repairers and Motor Blowers on Zoom (see flier below). 

The topic is about ending the unpaid lunch. Effectively, that unpaid lunch keeps us at work 30 minutes longer (8.5 hours). Example: If you currently work from 10pm to 6:30am, you will work from 10pm to 6:00am. We will lose our 10-minute contractual wash-up time and two-10 minute breaks.

This discussion is not related to the 7.5 hour overtime grievance. That was supposedly settled verbally with the CTA managers saying they would only assign 8 hour overtime (I have nothing in writing). 

This is something alot of coworkers want. However, questions and arguments regarding it need to be made. This will be our chance. 

I tested the link and it did not seem to work for me. However the Meeting ID and Passcode work fine. So I suggest that you access the meeting directly through the Zoom homepage and enter the following Meeting ID 873 8764 6890 and Passcode 284660. 

Any changes to the meeting arrangements and links will be updated in this blog article.