CTA Theater: Death Spiral, Soft Landing or Crash?

This guest blog article is by Brother Christopher Campisi, Local 308 Union Steward and Rail Car Repairer. He running for Local 308 Vehicle Maintenance Executive Board Member. 

If I am understanding this correctly, the CTA is basically proposing that the state and city increase funding and cover an amount similar to the Covid relief provided under the Biden Administration. 

We should be able to agree that additional funding is required for two man crews, a strategic plan addressing the riders concerns, covered third rails, maintenance of facilities and equipment, equal wages, full time permanent jobs, etc. The fact that we are receiving less funding and the constant threats of taking it away from the Right Wing Should are an important concern to all of us. 

We need to remind Chicago that Transit belongs to the people of Chicago. We should be "nonstop" in educating the workers and riders on how to pressure politics for the transit they deserve.

I also understand that $74,000,000.00 was the RTA shifting of funds to keep CTA from the "death spiral" as it relates to the 2026 and 2027 CTA budget. Without that transfusion from RTA, the CTA would have to announce reduction in service to riders and layoffs to workers in early 2026. 

We are still in a "Death Spiral" that can be stopped by putting the pressure on the "anti public transportation" State Senator John Curran, who voted "no" in the Senate this spring. While reforms may be needed and the Safety of our workers has the City polarized. 

There are many politicians like John Curran who would not approve the funding of the Pensions that the CTA workers contribute over 13% of their salary to fund. The Right Wing has taken us out of the picture, what they conclude about the abuses of our pension is half true. The CTA served as another stop for the Chicago politicians like Claypool and Hubner to collect more pension money before going to take another from the next Chicago Sister Agency. 

I wish the CTA pension resembled that of a Republican Senator for Illinois, if I had Curran's plan I could walk away with approximately 39% of my salary with only 13 years of service, and no 13+% contribution like me. He is 100% correct in wanting reform, after seeing what he receives I want that s#@t!!!!

So to sum it up, the Senate bill for our funding was held up then passed at the 11th hour,  it was too late for the House to pass HB 3438. 

That was on May 31st, and no action was taken for an emergency summer session. RTA gave the CTA $74,000,000.00 for the 2026 budget to keep us in the death spiral until the Veto Session of October 14, 15, 16 and 28, 29, 30. The CTA is still funded for the rest of 2025. 

What happens in The 6 days of October Veto Session will determine if the CTA is fully funded in 2026/2027. Positive outcome is that HB3438 is passed and life goes on at CTA, If HB 3438 gets amended prior to its passing minor changes might be made and last if the bill doesn't pass it becomes TRANSIT ARMAGEDDON!

What to do in the meantime for everyone in Chicago?

1. Make some kind of contact with your favorite IL House Rep to get us funding! Governor Pritzker can end this quickly so don't let him off the hook either. Consider working on a campaign to oust Illinois Senator Curran.
   
   
2.  Let our Communities know what's at stake for workers and riders!
   
   
3. Stay up to date and ahead of rumors, formulate educated conclusions on your own, follow the bill in the Illinois House in October.
   
   
4. This is just one budget in our lifetime of budgets, stay engaged to help all of us put the CTA back on Track. This is the first firefight and not the end of the war!

What can the CTA workers do ?
 

1. Prepare for the worst, review your budget, start a weekly job search, and clean up your resume.
   
   
2. If you have never been laid off, seek out and don't be afraid to ask for help from Union Officials and Co-workers.
   
   
3. The combination of the CTA toxic workplace, Rumor Mill and the uncertainty of our job makes us all perfect candidates for the EAP (1-888-371-1125), get set up with FMLA days if Boss(also worried about the layoff, tries to make themselves look good at the cost of our sanity) starts going off the rails(very common at our hostile workplace).
    
4. Consider this a time to explore a different career, training, finish a degree, start a degree, take a welding class at City Colleges, get your CDL.
   
   
5. With the High Turnover, Existing Short Staffing, and the amount of overtime still available it would be hard to believe that during a shortage of workers a justified lay off could be announced. We need to inform Chicago.
   
   
6. Faced by a worse situation in Philadelphia SEPTA routes and service was cut, NO WORKERS LAID OFF, a hiring freeze was called but as of today they are still posting jobs  (This particular union does not take layoffs lightly, with a history of Strikes they stood prepared to inform the public how a reduced staff hurts service). Follow and steal the ideas of other workers in the same fight.
   
   
7. Be prepared to fight for jobs, Informational Pickets in front of highly visible CTA stations to City Hall, could pressure  CTA and Politicians to admit how short staffed the CTA truly is.
   
   
8. Plan for job actions to be staffed and ready to roll out after the  VETO session on Halloween.
   
   
9. Solidarity and helping each other out will save us all from "cliffs", the "spirals", the "armegeddons."
    
10. Let people know your ideas for this fight and the next one! 

People told me the 2 times I was laid off, also when I lost contracts working on commission and even the times I lost large projects as a subcontractor: "Chris when one door closes another will open." My advice is two part 1st "Never walk away quietly stand up for your Jobs" and 2nd, "There were times when one door was slammed in my face and I was forced to steal a ladder and enter thru the window."

Illinois Senator Delgado Thinks Funding Can Be Solved in Six Days

 

The opinions expressed by guest bloggers here or in Shop Talk newsletter are not necessarily the opinion or sanctioned policies and actions by Brother Eric Curtis Muhammad Basir, ATU Local 308 members, elected leadership or stewards. In the spirit of the First Amendment and the ATU Obligation, all CTA workers and supporters are welcome to submit content of any point-of-view for this blog. Real identities will be hidden upon request.