Why Is CTA Funding Is Failing?

If the ATU, Illinois AFL-CIO and the CFL had been helping the CTA workers fight for the fundamentals of the best possible working conditions, ridership would be high. 

Worker health and happiness has a direct relation to good and reliable service. With good and reliable service, funding wouldn’t be such a difficult argument—regardless of who was president of the USA. 

If we organized people to fight for poverty elimination through affordable housing, education and healthcare, crime would not be a major concern on CTA buses and trains. 

Instead, we focus on electoral politics and superficial solutions. Labor union leaders have become proxies and agents for politicians—who in turn serve corporations that bribe them. 

The worst of our union leaders—which includes most in my own union—have been kneecapped by blind allegiance to “maintaining good relationships” with our employers. 

The only demands we make are for more policing and prisons to lock up lost souls with nothing to lose—who will eventually return to wreak havoc on workers. Each of us CTA workers is either one paycheck from poverty—or already enslaved by it. 

Now you know why we are in this mess—and it will only get worse until we admit the Truth. 

It’s time we reform our unions and democratize them. It’s time that the people of Chicago stop voting and hoping for some elected boss to save us. 

Then we can build up our organizations to take power and redirect tax revenue from corporate welfare, perpetual wars and prisons for profit. We can put that money into human development and investment for our needs. 

I am an ATU official and CTA employee. I know what I am talking about. I challenge anyone who disagrees to a livestream public debate. Bring your proof. I will certainly bring mine. 

You are invited to an emergency meeting for CTA workers and rider-supporters to discuss this on June 1st at 4pm.