Open Letter To The [Acting] CTA President

Dear Acting President Nora Leerhsen:

Congratulations on your elevation to the position of Acting President at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). I have examined your sincere statements and efforts for promoting equality between men and women. I acknowledge your positive ideas to promote the mission of the CTA. Without a doubt, history will record your noble efforts.

My name is Eric Curtis Muhammad Basir. I work at 98th Rail Maintenance Shop—and as a part-time Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 Executive Board Member and Steward. I was hired as a Customer Service Assistant in 2018 and later a FTT Flagman and Combined Rail Operator. Before I became an annoying union representative, I was the recipient of the Presidential Commendation and numerous commendations in customer service at the CTA.

Inspired by your positive efforts, I decided to encourage you to do even more to promote the CTA's mission. 

Please do not take offense in my initiative and strong language. I am merely speaking frankly, as is my right as a union representative. I am also offering my thoughts based in experience as a front-line operations and maintenance employee. 

As an employee—and an union representative who many bus and rail workers trust—I have witnessed nothing short of gross disrespect of human rights and our Collective Bargaining Agreement from the majority of CTA managers I encounter. Month after month, I personally deal with cases of punishment meted out on CTA employees who have no responsibility for the horrific working conditions that foster most of the writeups and terminations.

Frankly, the CTA is failing its mission. The future is bleak. Morale is mostly non-existent and our reputation as a public transportation agency throughout the United States is embarrassing. If things continue on this path, the people of Chicago will no longer have affordable public transportation.

The working conditions for me and my coworkers are hideous. Compared to CTA headquarters, almost every facility is unsanitary, inundated with deadly hazards and in violation of countless health and safety laws (including CTA Safety Rules). 

The record of the flaws is evident in the dozens of grievances and complaints submitted by ATU members on a weekly basis. Perpetual fear of punishment, loathing and resentment of cruel managers—peppered with annual "appreciation" parties—must come to an end. 

The despicable conditions which women suffer here—the majority of whom are Black and Latina—have taken the CTA backwards into the early 1900's. Sexual harassment and union-busting is commonplace.

The toxic combination of perpetual 40-hour part-time jobs and no paid sick leave (as enshrined by Chicago Municipal Code 6-130) forces the workers to choose between maintaining personal health and family responsibilities or keeping their jobs. 

This unsustainable environment fuels a high turnover rate and brain-drain of experienced and talented workers. Moreover, the second class status of Second Chance Program "Apprentices" merely accelerates the hire-to-fire churn of workers. 

Many of my full-time permanent coworkers must work overtime just to pay their mortgages and childcare. The situation for the part-time workers is doubly treacherous. 

I believe you sincerely wish to make the CTA a better agency for the workers and the riders. You hit the ground running in your new position. 

It is clear to me: You want to inspire a generation of young women to take initiative and serve their communities so they can build a better world. 

You can accomplish this with greater ease if you embrace a retroactive perspective at the CTA. That is—by asking yourself—how did we get here?

Clearly, the root of the problems of poor service at the CTA are working conditions. Since the elimination of the Conductor craft (1999) and part-time jobs (accelerated in 2015), the race-to-the-bottom cost-cutting has brought nothing but strife and degeneracy. 

We, the workers, make the system operate. Without us, nothing moves. We also make up a large portion of CTA expenses. When we are demoralized, injured, stressed out and sick, the entire CTA reflects it.

As a union representative—who also takes pride in my job, seeks to inspire others and make public transportation in Chicago better—I humbly implore you to secure the funding and direct an even greater investment into the workforce. That investment can be described by four pillars:

1. Granting us paid sick leave as per Municipal Code 6-130 (no concessions for Short Term Disability nor holiday and vacation benefits).
   
   
2. Full-Time Permanent jobs. There should be no other tier of workers at the CTA. So many problems we have now regarding rule violations would not exist if we had full-time jobs for all.
   
   
3. Re-establishment of two-person crews. Starting first on the rail side Operations, this will cut delays and low morale by at least 50%—and create a safer experience for train crews and riders.
   
   
4. Brick-and-mortar bathrooms at all bus turnarounds and rail stations. This is a critical human right that especially effects women who work at the CTA.

This is just four pillars of the investment in the workers. There are many other deficiencies that need attention as well. However, as a union representative who is keenly aware of the intricate web of hazards and pitfalls that ensnare us, such pillars will have the most positive, system-wide effect if taken care of first. 

I hope and pray that my message finds a place in your heart and mind.  

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,