When You Go Before "The Board"

If you have a grievance case coming up at the union office, keep in mind that almost everyone in there is an undercover agent of the CTA mismanagement. 

They will most likely say judgemental things about your case before you enter their "board room" of horrors. Sometimes our Vice Presidents, James and Mark will actually call your case "funny" and laugh about it.

When you walk in, they will smile in your face and the president will ask you:

"Do you know why are you here today?"

What a stupid question! 

The true answer is that our outlaw employer doesn't give a damn about your grievance–and neither do the presidents. 

There really is no reason for you to be there except that they want to humiliate you.

Regardless, have your case ready to defend. They will try to trap you in trick to make you look like a liar. They will try to convince you that they care. They do not! They care only for the mismanager who wrote you up and fired you!

I have been among these demons for almost three years. They don't want to do ANYTHING to help members. If something is "not winnable in arbitration," they have absolutely no desire, creativity or bravery to organize any other way to fight! 

I have endured numerous threats of violence, slander of my wife and silly gaslighting for defending you all from them. This is why I am running for president. They have no love for us. They have no business making decisions about your life!

So you must enter the room with confidence! When they smell fear, they go in for the kill!

Have your documentation ready! Don't show up scrolling through your phone trying to find stuff. Don't say "I left the letter at home." Damn it, take this seriously because they don't! Have ten copies of all documentation to pass around. 

Contact me ahead of time and let's role play the meeting so you can be ready. I will defend you—you can count on it!

But let me know if there are questions you want me to bring up for you to answer. Help me to help you! 779-456-6460.

If your grievance is voted to send to arbitration, don't get comfortable! Keep following up with the union presidents and vice presidents via email for updates. CC me in the emails for added pressure (they hate when members include me). Sometimes they make a deal outside of an arbitrator and it sucks! Learn the Contract (specifically Article 16 and Article 17).