CTA Switchman Murdered

UPDATE (7/8): Funeral dates were published on various Facebook Groups. Visitation: July 24 from 3-7pm at 400 Pulaski Road in Calumet City. July 25 at  2630 E. 95th Street in Chicago: Viewing at 10 am. Life celebration at 10:30-noon. Masonic services at 10:30.

UPDATE (7/7): The 98th Shop memorial now has a poster with reward-for-information number. See below.

 

UPDATE (7/3): I received a screenshots of this letter from the Local 241 president and a letter from the CTA Chief Transit Officer about Brother Kevin. 

UPDATE (7/3): Our unofficial 98th Shop memorial has been upgraded with a lamp. See below.

 

UPDATE (7/2): Block Club Chicago headline noted Brother Kevin as a “proud CTA employee." Read more at their website.

UPDATE (7/2): A coworker sent me this recording from the CTA Control Center announcing Brother Kevin's death. 

UPDATE (7/1): Below is a photo of a beautiful memorial for Brother Kevin was placed on the fence near the area he was murdered. Also, a banner was placed near the Shop entrance. Friends, family and coworkers are encouraged to post thoughts about their memories of him in the comments section below.

 

UPDATE (7/1): I have received questions about a $10,000 matching reward from ATU Local 308 for the capture of Brother Kevin's killer. I have received no information about this claim. So I am not sure if it's true. Post anything you find in the comments. 

UPDATE (6/29): Cook County Crime Stoppers made an announcement and flier for information about the murder at their Facebook Page. 

UPDATE (6/29): The Chicago Sun-Times published an article about the incident and Brother Kevin's friends and family. It includes words and a photo of our union president.

UPDATE (6/29): NBC 5 reports on $2,000 reward announced to find the murderer. CPD tip form here.

UPDATE (6/28): WGN TV reports on Brother Kevin. 

UPDATE (6/28): I am hosting an CTA Worker Emergency Support Call on Zoom tonight at 9:30 pm. Register here. 

UPDATE (6/28): Retired Rail Instructor Gilmore speaks on Facebook about our working conditions and the loss of our brother. 

UPDATE (6/28): ABC 7 reports on Brother Kevin's life outside of the CTA.

I woke up to text messages that Local 308 member and CTA Switchman, Kevin Barlow, was murdered while on the clock. 

I knew him from my time working at 98th Shop. He was a thoughtful and kind man. We did not always agree on things relating to our union and our employer, but we held respect for each others differences. I hold alot of respect for brothers like him because we can agree to disagree. That is rare in this world of raging passions of hate and intolerance.

We have been enduring so much violence at the CTA, that I am unsure if the emptiness I feel is because we are getting accustomed to it or I am in state of psychological shock. 

Our union president release the following statement (which I received around 11:40 am today):

I commend our president for publishing the notice. However, I find carefully-crafted statements aggravating. After the attempted murder on Howard Switchmen in 2024—and now this incident—we need to go beyond telling members about thoughts, prayers and getting counseling from the EAP spy program. 

Between the daily assaults on our dignity by the mismanagers and riders with nothing to lose, CTA workers are literally losing their minds and crying for justice.

Right away, we need to call an emergency meeting to let coworkers talk about how they are feeling. We need to do our own union counseling. 

Then we need to let them express themselves without judging and direct frustration into organizing mass action.

For you coworkers, like this one, who say I should be silent, I say **** YOU! Now IS the time to speak up! Now IS the time to demand that the CTA mismanagement be held accountable for spitting on our Contract and lives!

I invite coworkers, friends and family to post memories of Brother Kevin the comments section below. 

Updates will be posted as I receive them.