Chicago transit, rail union spar over seniority rules

CHICAGO — The Chicago Tribune reported that several hundred Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) employees protested alleged violations in a four-year labor agreement that the union ratified in December. The rail union workers claimed that CTA management is violating seniority rules that allow customer service employees at rail stations to select their work hours.
    
Union officials told the paper that newly hired part-time workers who are paid at a lower rate are being given priority over veteran employees to choose work shifts. When some of the new workers call in sick, the senior full-time workers are assigned on short notice to fill in on the shifts.

CTA management responded that it is following the labor agreement and deploying personnel "in a manner that best serves our customers at the busiest rail stations.'' For the full story, click here.