Let's Fight Against Layoffs!

UPDATE (8/22/2025): The RTA has taken funds from Metra and Pace to give the CTA a 2-3 month lifeline. Access the entire 23 page ordinance for all the facts. I highly recommend that we arm ourselves with the facts and continue to build for mass action to back our demands the protection of our jobs. 

Almost an hour before going to work yesterday, I received a telephone call from a source at another union that represents CTA workers. According to the information I received, a layoff process will begin on September 1, 2025. I was told this will occur whether we have funding or not! 

I immediately notified my Virtual Union Hall email list and then did a quick Facebook Live video—which is now on YouTube—to get the word out.

It is so important that we tell our union presidents in Local 308 and Local 241 that we will not tolerate anyone being laid off. We want their support. Not ridicule us. Not belittle us. 

We need to be out and loud about our desire to remain gainfully employed and to keep the system running safely for the riders! That's what real unions do! Not sit and wait to see what happens!

So I am calling for us to protest about the CTA mismanagement's looming layoff threat/plan off-the-clock at the Illinois AFL-CIO Labor Day rally on September 1st at 11am. Let's bring posters, bullhorns and noisemakers. Details below (click/tap to enlarge). Also, please register for the event at this link.

In addition to protesting about this crap being thrown our way, we should also understand the Contract and what it says about a layoff. Moreover, fellow Local 308 union steward, Brother Chris Campisi, shared some very important links to help us get a historical and technical understanding. 

He rightfully questions the entire plan of 20% budget cuts dictating up to 40% layoffs. In the 2007-2008 layoff year, they cut only 75 managers compared to 1,000 workers! Indeed, the crooked ways of CTA mismanagement was always to lay us off. Now they have a convenient excuse!

'Doomsday' Funding Scenario (ABC-7 News).

RTA 'Fiscal Cliff Dashboard' updates. 

How layoffs are supposed to be executed, according to law is found in the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN). We must be diligent to make sure that the CTA mismanagement does not bypass the guidelines!

Read this press release from the CTA in 2007-2008, regarding the layoffs.

Do you agree? Disagree? Please post in the comments below.