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Drug Testing... Do's and Don'ts

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While I type this, I got a call from a member saying.. "Brother Gallardo I dropped dirty.. what do I do" Well, i'll tell you, it's more common with CTA Workers than the public knows.  Everyday we struggle with life kicking our asses, then you gotta maintain a level of professionalism at work, then gotta maintain their home life as well.  Substance Abuse with a mix of Life sometimes gets us. Often times, I try and understand where they come from only because I remember when I used to work in a Substance Abuse Clinic where they would administer Methadone. I never looked at them any other way besides that they're sick and need help.   Below is the scenario that in the event you're in this situation (Reasonable Suspicion for CTA Employees) Please do not leave the designated testing area. Once you leave the test area, its considered a Positive Test result and you'll be OOS by the CTA. (Out of Service)  If you're in New Hire Probation (CSA's), if Managem...
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Cook County Sheriff Security Walkthrough @ Forest Park Terminal

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    Pictured ATU Local 308 Union President Pennie McCoach  This week has been an interesting week for me and as I type this up.. I cant help but think, WOW!!  At 9pm, We met up with the Cook County Sheriff Task Force at Forest Park Terminal and we had a mini Town Hall with my fellow coworkers and some of my E-Board Members and Top Union Officers. They told us that CTA is in for some changes on how we do security overall and the Technology that will be rolled out is state of the art.   As we wrapped up the Town Hall in the Forest Park Breakroom, I couldn't help but notice that as we walked up the stairs to the Forest Park Platform, The Cook County Sheriffs, were very tentative and focused and immediately noticed that as my Fellow Switch Workers was clearing the train in the North Pocket, the Homeless was scattering to the South Pocket. When they saw them go from one train to another,  They asked me, " Is this Normal?" I replied, " ALL THE TIME."...
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Please Don't See the Manager Without Union Representation!

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A major issue amongst our members is the lack of Union Education and seeing the Manager without REPRESENTATION!!  In the nature of the business, you're upset that you got charged and then when your Grievance gets heard at 112th and Western for the Executive Board to hear, I often hear Members saying, “ Oh I seen the Manger without Representation that day.” Deep Down inside, it makes me cringe because the Management team comes off to me as Predatory, and to be honest with you guys.. It's the only way that I can respectfully explain it. It's messed up to me that they take advantage of the uneducated Local 308 Member and not explain to them the rules and when we challenge them they say " Oh you got a Rule Book and a CAG". I've heard them all say, Call your Union I don't wanna hear it. So I'm writing this to you guys to inform you to better prepare yourself if you're in this predicament and prepare for how to handle this situation. Below are examples. ...
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Local 308 FMLA Education

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          FMLA Rules and Tips         I usually don't post blogs but I felt compelled to write this only because I see the on-going issues with the education of our members and we as board members should do a better job of publicly educating our members on this major issue that's been going on for years. This is now Year 3 for me on the E-Board and now I feel this is now the time to start educating our members during a contract year to better prepare us for the fight for a fair and new contract that better suits our needs. Below are Tips of things that I feel will help members with any questions that I always answer when they call me. I always love to educate our members on how we do this and I feel that this will help our members to achieve greatness in their careers at the CTA. Some of these documents I've networked with the Management Team for our members. ( A Manager and I made a packet for the members for a Resource). Below is ...
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