Chicago transit, rail union spar over seniority rules
Several hundred Chicago Transit Authority rail union employees protested alleged violations in a four-year labor agreement. The workers claimed that management is violating seniority rules that let customer service employees at rail stations select their work hours. The agency said it is following the agreement and scheduling employees to best serve riders at its busiest stations.
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.
More Management
Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
Read More →
Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI
Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
Federal Transit Officials Launch MARTA Safety Probe
FTA has given MARTA 15 days to provide records on crime prevention, fare evasion enforcement, and security funding as part of a broader safety investigation.
Read More →
ABA's Ferguson Testifies in Support of BUS Act, National Standards for Bus Operators
The BUSES Act would create a nationwide framework preventing state and local governments from enforcing bus idling restrictions of less than 15 minutes, a threshold consistent with existing Environmental Protection Agency guidance.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
Florida’s JTA Puts Innovation in Motion Ahead of America250
The agency unveiled a commemorative America250 bus during a visit from U.S. DOT's Seval Oz and showcased its autonomous mobility programs.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
IndyGo, Cleveland RTA Expand Digital Fare Payment Options with Masabi
The new systems combine mobile apps, smart cards, and automatic fare capping to simplify payments, expand flexibility, and help riders access the lowest available fares.
Read More →