Nov 15, 2007 6:27 pm US/Central
New CTA 'Doomsday' Threat: Transit Workers' Strike
Unions Say They Are Tired Of Legislators' Inaction
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Members of the transit union say they are fed up with the legislature's inability to come up with the cash to keep buses and trains running, so now they have set a deadline for lawmakers. Find long term funding by the end of the year, they say, or the union will stage a job action.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, not only are CTA passengers facing possible fare hikes and service cutbacks, but things could be even worse than that with the threat of a transit workers' strike, if the state's politicians can't come up with a permanent way to pay for Chicago area transit.
Wednesday's transit funding summit, a fruitless meeting some say descended into a shouting match, has left Chicago-area transportation leaders frustrated.
"Responsible people have to act now, before the end of the year," said Regional Transit Authority Board Chairman Jim Reilly.
Reilly and union leaders on Thursday put more pressure on the governor and lawmakers to come up with a permanent funding plan for the RTA, CTA, Pace and Metra. The pressure was strong; the union representing CTA train crews hinted at some kind of job action or a possible strike.
"One thing I know will cause a detriment to the riding public is the fact that you won't see a train or bus coming down the street or down the rail," said Rick Harris of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
One union leader said the crisis could mean that 2,400 CTA workers might lose their jobs.
"We're handing out pink slips. That's a doomsday scenario," said Dennis Gannon of the Chicago Federation of Labor. "We should be handing out turkeys. It's the holiday season."
"Maybe we have to show you exactly what doomsday looks like," Harris added.
Mayor Richard M. Daley says he understands workers' anger.
"They renegotiated, no pay increase, dealing with their pension funds and all that," Daley said. "All those transit workers out there, all those men and women work very hard."
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office said he met Thursday with State Senate President Emil Jones and GOP legislative leaders. The topic again was rapid transit funding. The governor says he believes a deal can be cut by Thanksgiving.
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