Fall 2025 Shop Worker Pick

 

UPDATE (11/13/2025): As of 1:27 pm, the Shop Worker Pick is closed. Some victories: I made sure any forcing for lowest seniority for Excel were first and that trainees got a chance to pick I was baffled that management claimed they made a deal with us (Local 308) to prevent trainees from picking. They even had it written on a form! So they offered to put President Pennie on speakerphone to back it up! When they put her on, she affirmed that they cannot pick. But then she asked “What’s the usual practice (totally ignoring my grievance about it). After they explained that picking for trainees has happened before, she suddenly changed her stance. I am astonished by the inconsistency and strange agreements made without members having a say—or at least informing me. Here is the final master document of picked jobs and seniority for all Shop Workers. Losses: We fell an hour behind because of an issue with the wrong job number written in at Rosemont. Also, we did not get #87 back. This Pick was way too late! Please tell me what you thought about this Pick by filling out this short survey now.

UPDATE (11/13/2025): A mix-up with forcing set the pick back over an hour. For those who had to endure waiting at your work location beyond the picking time, I recommend you submit a grievance. Start the clock from your scheduled Pick time. Something like this: I was required to wait on CTA property beyond my scheduled Pick time of TIME and DATE. I wish to be compensated for the time beyond TIME, for a total of XX hours (or minutes).

UPDATE (11/13/2025): As of 6:04 AM, The Pick Central phone is working normally (847-982-5081). You can use that number to choose a job (which I recommend). 

UPDATE (11/13/2025): As of 5:45 AM, The Pick Central phone seems to be down (847-982-5081). Please call your Shop. I will post an update if anything changes.

UPDATE (11/12/2025): The master list for seniority picking times and jobs is updated from today's revision. Access it here. This has the latest picking times and I confirmed it is correct. Also, all the picked jobs through the end of today are listed. Forcing will likely start with Truck Shop tomorrow.

UPDATE (11/12/2025): I am currently at the Pick for today and tomorrow. Call me if you need anything. Your union dues are paying for me to be off work in service to you. The master list of jobs and seniority is at this link. However, this list is obsolete as of this morning! Please call your work location to confirm picking time!

UPDATE (11/10/2025): After intense protest, President Pennie stated in email that I will be put on the Repairer Pick for Wednesday and Thursday. Thanks to those who said something. I think it made a difference. Now turn in those Choice Slips in case you cannot call in! Expect to be bumped if you have less than 8 years as a Repairer. I am turning mine in today.

UPDATE (11/10/2025): Although it there is no threat of this happening now, I have confirmed reports that CTA management is planning to merge HVAC and Controls inspection jobs in the future. I don't like when any of our jobs are diminished or eliminated. Still, I want to know what Repairers think: Please complete this survey now. Also, I intend on holding a discussion/action planning session about it at my Online Steward Class Sunday at 10:30. Please register now. 

UPDATE (11/10/2025): As our union president continues blocking me from representing members who voted for and want my presence, she blocked me from supervising the Leader/Tech/Motor Blower/Servicer Pick. She is doing the same for the Repairer Pick. This ridiculous attempt to punish members for electing and wanting my help will only stop if members take a stand. Show up at the membership meeting Saturday at 10am an make your voice heard. Also call and email the president: 708-426-4874 and pmccoach@atu308.org

UPDATE (11/8/2025): I have updated the master document to display redacted completed picked jobs for Servicers, Motor Blowers, Leaders and Technicians. Access it here. Next week will be Repairers.

UPDATE (11/7/2025): After some investigation, I learned that the reason the Pick was set back was that a manager wrote in the wrong job number that a coworker picked while in-person. This has nothing to do with Brother Lamont or any union official. The lesson we can take from this is to triple-check the piece of paper we are given when picking in-person. Also, if we are calling in, we should ask the person on the phone to read back what was entered. Then compare that to the job number we chose. 

UPDATE (11/5/2025): Brother Lamont responded to my email message: "Management made an error updating the job board and actually put the wrong job and shift. The pick will proceed tomorrow and Friday and all new pick times should be posted at all locations." I will attempt to update the master document online as I can obtain the list.

UPDATE (11/5/2025): I saw an email message from President Pennie to another member. She wrote that Brother Lamont Johnson is "the union rep that working the pick  for the car servicers here is his number and email address ljohnson829@gmail.com 773-314-7537 he can share what the status of the pick is." Her continued blocking me from being in the Pick is outrageous. As long as you all continue to let her do this, it will continue! I can only presume she will replace me with Sharon Green or someone else for the Repairers. With the exception of a Board member who is sick or injured, never has happened in known Local 308 history. I have also emailed him, requesting information.

UPDATE (11/5/2025): A member in Rail Car Appearance (RCA Servicer) texted me that everyone who picked yesterday may need to re-pick. Possibly more? I recommend all who showed up off-the-clock to file grievances for the time. I hope to file a grievance for our union to be reimbursed for the expenses of paying whoever our president assigned to attend the Pick. 

UPDATE (11/5/2025): I have received reports from members that our Pick has been "postponed." As usual, President Pennie is not allowing me to be involved with our Pick (she only does this to me and not the other Executive Board members). So I have no idea what is happening. Whatever you find out, text me at 779-456-6460. I will post here. Members need to demand she stop disrespecting your duly-elected Executive Board member from doing his job: pmccoach@atu308.org. Also let the International President John Costa know: officeofthepresident@atu.org. Show up at the membership meeting Saturday at 10am and speak your mind. I will be presenting charges on her about slandering my wife. 

UPDATE (10/25/2025): I have submitted a new Class Action Grievance, demanding that trainees be allowed to pick. This will be sent to our union presidents on Monday morning. Read it for yourself here. 

UPDATE (10/23/2025): This morning I inserted the picking procedure and announcement letters at the beginning of the master document here. I submitted a correction to management regarding the wrong seniority date for a Motor Blower. Also I requested an updated seniority list and job sheets. Every update will be made on on the master document here. Please send any corrections or questions using this form.

UPDATE (10/22/2025): For your convenience, I have merged all the latest Shop Worker Job and Seniority Picking schedules that I have received into one document. Access it here. I will update this document with any other changes.

UPDATE (10/22/2025): Although I got no response from management, Job #85 was revised and reposted on job sheets without the HVAC requirement. Keep up the good work by informing me about problems! Unfortunately, those missing jobs I noted on the 10/21 update that are being "held" for trainees have still not been restored. I have not received the grievance number from the union office either (not good). So I have resent a reminder to Brother James, the 2nd VP. 

UPDATE (10/21/2025): A coworker has submitted a grievance about the DesPlaines Shop Midnight Yard Job #87. I need similar grievances from others to be sent in too. Keep sending me reports of problems using this form. I posted a video update on YouTube.

UPDATE (10/21/2025): A coworker notified me that Job #85 (Midnight General Repair at Des Plaines Shop) is listed now as HVAC qualified only on the Repairer Job Sheets. This is highly unusual and also resembles yet another violation of our picking rights. I have emailed management to request an explanation. They need to get that requirement off or I think they will try forcing it. Send complaints to me through this form.

UPDATE (10/21/2025): Management has proceeded with posting the Repairer jobs without putting back missing jobs from the 10/16 update (Job #115 yard inspection Midway; Job #7 pool 54th; Job #157 GB Howard; Job #87 yard inspection Des Plaines; Job #203 pool Rosemont). This really sucks! Therefore I have submitted a Class Action Grievance to put those jobs back (I did not include the referenced email thread because the manager may attempt to have me written up for posting their message publicly). Also, those members who wanted those jobs are being encouraged to send grievances of their own. I hope to post those grievances in this blog article soon.

UPDATE (10/20/2025): I received email from the union president that management corrected two workers seniority dates. So I updated the Seniority Picking Schedule accordingly. Please double-check and make sure your information is correct! The Servicer Jobs List here remains unchanged. The Repairer Jobs List here is still in limbo because I am still awaiting a response from management. As the president refuses to take me off work to do my job as per the union bylaws, I am unable to double and triple check everything we are sent from management! Submit all corrections and complaints through the form here.

UPDATE (10/20/2025): Management has submitted the "union copy" of the Seniority and Picking Schedule List (the filename has "System Pick"). Please view the Seniority Picking Schedule here and use this form if you see any problems. Please notify me if you don't see this posted. Also I need to know if the job sheets are posted in your Shop. Our president will not take me off work to check. So I need everyone's help.

UPDATE (10/19/2025): After presenting a clear argument that holding jobs to be "picked" by trainees is a breach of Contract, I am still awaiting a response from management. 

UPDATE (10/16/2025): A coworker notified me that yesterday's corrected jobs sheets still have some discrepancies (I am awaiting response to my email inquiry): Job #115 yard inspection Midway; Job #7 pool 54th; Job #157 GB Howard; Job #87 yard inspection Des Plaines; Job #203 pool Rosemont; Total job count on 9/17 is 229. Total job count as of 10/15 is 223 (SIX jobs still missing). However 6th missing Job is the red-lined tech position described by management on 10/15. 

UPDATE (10/15/2025): Around 4:30 pm, management responded to my inquiries: "That is incorrect just 1 Tech job is being redlined. I just updated the sheets I made sure they are correct. The sheets have been updated the total number of jobs to pick from are 223, we have 4 repairers that are in training that will make the number go to 227. We also redlined the 1 tech job. The updated sheets have been added see attachment sorry for the mistake." I need all Repairers to check this latest correction and get back to me with corrections on this form. Pick effective date is now set at Nov. 16.

UPDATE (10/15/2025): Management is calling on Shop Workers who are on-duty to sign off on Seniority Lists. These do not have picking times! But it is a step in the right direction.  

UPDATE (10/15/2025): Management sent an updated picked job list for Repairers (Motor Blowers, Leaders and Technicians) with the following explanation: "Hello Pennie see attachment updated repairer pick removed the PM tech job due the the loss of repairer A. Bailey. We had the meeting last week if you ok with the pick let me know would like to start posting the pick paperwork next week." To me, it appears that THREE Tech jobs are being eliminated (but 8 jobs appear in the revised shop only). Also, the "As of" date has not changed. Moreover, total job counts are way down. Complaints are piling in. I am hoping this is a keyboard mishap on the part of management. I am not happy about it and awaiting clarification. I need all Repairers to examine the changes and submit questions and comments at this form. You can compare them to the jobs list from 9/17 here. All the Servicers have apparently not changed since the first draft on 9/17. Let President Pennie know what you think of this too: (708) 426-4874 and pmccoach@atu308.org

UPDATE (10/14/2025): Our Pick is long overdue. Seniority Lists have not yet been submitted for review. The CTA is in violation of our Contract. Read the grievance I submitted here. Brother Vice President James confirmed the grievance number is 1025-12.

UPDATE (10/7/2025): Due to glitches with my phone and the "Microsoft Teams" app being used, was barely able to attend today's Pick Meeting. But I got for at least a few minutes. Management said that our anticipated effective Pick date should be November 3rd. The picking times should start on or around October 16th. None of your requests are being granted. Only "discussed." The Leader and Technician force will continue. Revised Pick Sheets and Seniority Lists may be sent to us this week.  Once again, we are facing blatant disrespect. We will never make progress in meetings. If you are ready to organize action to get what we want, let me know. 

UPDATE (9/17/2025): Good news! President Pennie forwarded draft Pick Job Sheets from management to me and her Assistants. Use these links to view the Servicer and Repairer Pick Job Sheets (We still need Seniority Lists). I need ALL Shop Workers to scrutinize these sheets and submit feedback on this new survey (whether you like what is there or not). Management wrote to President Pennie in that email: "Attached are the RM repairer jobs nothing was changed from the last pick the only thing that was changed was 5 leader jobs now have at least one day off on the weekend those jobs are listed below 

2211 (131) Sun/Mon -  Kim
2251 (104) Fri/Sat - MID
2226 (175) Fri/Sat - HOW
2234 (26) Sun/Mon - Harlem
2244 (9) Fri/Sat - 54th"  

You can confirm what he wrote by comparing the previous Pick. See 5/29 update here. 

UPDATE (9/16/2025): President Pennie responded today with the following information: "Good afternoon Mr. Basir I don’t know why you was unable to get into the pre pick meeting. The discussion was on being proactive within the maintenance department also the jobs before it is put into official picking documents. They did discuss giving more weekend days to leaders."

UPDATE (9/15/2025): Still no response to the 9/12 email message. So today I sent another email message to President Pennie, the VPs, Secretary-Treasurers and her Assistant: "Members are asking me about the Pick and I have no facts to share since I was blocked from the Pick Meeting. Are there any facts you can share that I may tell members?" It is obvious they want to prevent me from sharing what they know. So I recommend that members inquire with them and feed the answers to me. I will post what you share with me and protect your identity.

UPDATE (9/12/2025): I am still in the dark about the Pick. So I sent an email to President Pennie, VP James and Assistant Lamont: "Greetings everyone: I hope all is well. Since I was blocked by management from the Pick meeting, please share with the other Shop Stewards facts from it that we can share with the Shop Workers." I will post any response that I receive.  

UPDATE (9/8/2025): I have no information to share with you about our upcoming Pick because I was blocked from attending the virtual Pick Meeting today. This is a blatant Unfair Labor Practice. I sent email messages requesting to be let in. I also submitted all the survey entries you all sent me. I got no responses to my email messages. However, I confirmed that President Pennie's Assistant, Brother Lamont, was present. As they are working together with Sharon Green and CTA mismanagement to replace me, you will need to get any information about that meeting from them (if I win Local 308 president next year, it won't be so easy for them to block me). I will share whatever I can find or obtain in subsequent updates. 

Good news: Today, I received a forwarded email from President Pennie about a Shop Worker Pick Meeting. So that means it's time to gather your concerns and present them to our bosses. 

For the past few years I have presented all of the Pick information for everyone online. This is atypical for our union. If I win president, this will be standard operating procedure for all crafts in Local 308.

Unfortunately, I was given notice of the meeting late today, September 5th. So I had to rush with a survey form and get notices out to as many workers as possible. Please access the anonymous survey at this link. I will close it on Monday, September 8th. 

Updates will be posted at the top of this article. Check often. If you are not receiving email updates from me, please subscribe here.