Bottom Officer At Your Service!

Ever since I became an active member—years prior to become a steward, delegate and Local 308 board member—the Top Officers bemoaned my efforts to inform members about their rights.

Every so often, they would write things on Facebook or blurt out in membership meetings:

"If you have questions, call the Top Officers!"

"Only consult with the officially-elected union officials!"

Top Officers is a code word for "Presidents and Secretary-Treasurer."

No other elected person, steward, delegate or rank-and-file member is considered knowledgeable or worthy to the sharing of information. That is, unless they are specifically appointed un-elected persons who blindly do the bidding of the Top Officers!

How can a union function this way? It's more like a personality cult or a manager-in-training security racket! 

So after calling and consulting with these Top Officers, alot of members get frustrated and call a Bottom Officer like me! Here's what they typically complain about after the experience:

…Won't answer my calls.

…Said there is nothing they can do about it. 

…Said will call back weeks ago and I am still waiting.

…Told me that we can't tell the CTA what to do.

…Told me I should be happy to have a job. 

…Told me if I want any help from them, I need to stop associating with you. 

Then, when I work on a solution with them—and they work with me to get closer to a resolution—the Top Officers whine about not knowing anything about it.

Historically, the objective of the Top Officers has been to protect the CTA mismanagement's position of brutality and crush any chance for collective action by the members. So when me and others gain the trust which the Top Officers never earned, they beat down the members.

Hence, their directive: Only communicate with the Top Officers! 

In this year of 2026, I hope to win the spot of Top Officer at Local 308. That is, the president.

Then I can dismantle this old, decrepit, dysfunctional business union structure and help the members take control of it. When that happens, I will actually be the Bottom Officer—a servant of the board members, stewards and rank and file. 

For now, I am proud to be a Bottom Officer. Let's keep it that way if I win.