CTA, Bus Drivers Unions Reach Tentative Deal

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 20, 2012 5:40PM

Image credit: Chicago Rail Head

The Chicago Transit Authority is adjusting its 2013 budget projections today after tentatively reaching a deal with the unions representing the agency’s bus drivers and motormen late Monday.

The deal with Amalgamated Transit Workers Unions 241 and 308 includes work-rule changes that could potentially prevent a fare increase. Here’s the breakdown from Tribune transportation columnist John Hilkevitch:

(B)us and rail union locals conceded to cuts in holiday overtime pay, a streamlined grievance process to deal with challenges to work-rule violations and slower wage growth for new employees, CTA spokesman Brian Steele said.

The new labor pact also incorporates a stronger approach to preventive health care for workers, which will help lower costs, he said.

"Having certainty of labor costs moving forward clearly benefits the agency," Steele said.

In turn, if the tentative contract is ratified by union membership, more than 7,000 CTA bus and train operators, customer assistants and administrative workers will get annual wage increases over the four-year agreement, said Javier Perez Jr., an ATU international vice president who represents CTA bus drivers and mechanics. He did not say how much the raises would be.

There will also be a 5 percent reduction in split shifts, an unpopular arrangement under which the workday is divided into sections and workers have unpaid time off in the middle, Perez said.

For the first time, most part-time bus drivers and temporary rail flagmen will be able to choose their work schedules, officials said.

CTA President Forrest Claypool had been claiming for onths a fare increase would be necessary if bus drivers and train conductors didn’t agree to work-rule changes. Claypool said Tuesday the tentative deal “helps achieve financial stability for the CTA, which has been my top priority since coming to the CTA 18 months ago.” ATU’s Perez said the deal “is part of a long-term ATU strategy to improve Chicago transit and we look forward to working with our riders to further improve CTA.”