A new labor contract between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Locals #241 and #308 was approved by the Chicago Transit Board.
The contract recognizes the important role of transit workers, while also providing more flexibility to allow CTA to meet evolving service needs.
“CTA workers have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic, working to provide the service Chicago and the region have relied on,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This contract recognizes the essential role public transit continues to play in Chicago’s pandemic recovery.”
The four-year agreement, covering 2020-2023, includes a 9.25 percent pay increase for ATU members, which include bus and rail operators; rail station customer service assistants; flag and track workers; and vehicle servicers. Locals #241 and #308 represent more than 8,000 members of CTA’s workforce of nearly 11,000. The contract also includes a five percent, one-time payment for hours worked in 2020.
The agreement with CTA’s largest union also provides the agency with more oversight and flexibility for scheduling. CTA now has the additional flexibility to hire full-time bus operators directly from the marketplace, versus solely from its pool of existing part-time operators.
“This agreement is fiscally prudent and helps ensure the CTA can continue to provide the highest level of service possible, while recognizing the hard work and commitment of CTA employees,” said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Lester Barclay.
CTA says it also took significant steps to ensure the health and welfare of its employees. Bargained for employees now will be eligible to participate in CTA’s wellness program and subsequently obtain a reduction in health insurance premiums. Additionally, designated employees will need to complete triennial fitness for duty exams, which aligns with industry best practices and promotes a healthy workforce and transit environment for employees and customers.
