CTA and Union Clash Over Part-Time Bus Operators

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by Lesley R. Chinn

While issues about supervision, maintenance, and instruction were among the hot-button items addressed at a regularly scheduled union meeting for CTA bus operators, controversy was brewing over whether the agency was in violation of a union contract between bus operators and the agency. More than 400 part-time CTA bus operators expressed concerns about being overworked and underpaid. The meeting was held on Monday and hosted by the Amalagamated Local Transit Union 241 at its headquarters located on 1340 W. Washington.

Union representatives said the contract allows for part-time CTA bus operators to work up to 30 hours a week. However, those hours are not guaranteed under the terms of the contract. Right now, part-timers are

currently working six days a week, with one day off. The day off is considered a rotating day.

Union President and Business Agent Darrell Jefferson said there are some part-timers in the system who routinely perform over 100 hours each pay period when they are supposed to work only 32 hours weekly, which means they are being treated like full-timers, he explained. With eight CTA garage locations and with employees working those hours, CTA is already being staffed with the 80 part-timers at a reduced cost, he stated. By enforcing the contract, Jefferson said it will compel CTAto treat parttime bus operators as part-time employees and at the same time, allow full-time employees to take advantage of overtime pay.

In addition, right now, Jefferson is calling for the CTA to allow parttime workers to choose their own schedules. That is on the table and it has been on (the table) for quite some time. We have received no

movement from the other side because thats not to their advantage, he said.

Jefferson said that there is an agreement with CTA and the union that will transition part-time workers into full-time positions on an as needed basis. Right now, we know that theres at least 170 full-time slots that need to be filled but Ron Huberman (CTA President) has decided to freeze everything and so hes not transitioning the parttimers.

When you transition them to into full-time positions, its going to cost the company money and you will

eventually have to pay holiday and sick time, and thats what (Huberman) is stifling right now. He has a budget problem right now and its being self-created by the CTA, he asserted.

While gas prices have gone up and senior citizens are riding buses for free, Jefferson said CTA has had ample time since January to make a decision to supplement their budgetary needs.

They also have a lot of pilot programs that are costing the company money, but how much of a hit is that? Freezing part-time transition is just a small part and really doesnt even sit on the map, and its just another excuse to show Springfield and the public that theyre trying to make major steps to having a balanced budget, he added.

The Citizen also reached out to CTA officials for a response, but calls went unreturned by this newspapers

deadline.

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