Please Don't See the Manager Without Union Representation!

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. 

          1. If you encounter Management asking to talk to you, the next response from you is, Am I being charged with anything?

          2. If Management says, You have 24Hrs to secure Union Representation, please call the Union Office at (312)-782-4665 or Your Local 308 Union Rep. CTA has the right to charge you if you don't secure it.  

         3. If you're in a situation where you have a 10-72, If Management says I need to be in the room with your Safety Interview, You immediately decline, because Safety and Managements Investigation is 2 separate investigations and the member has the right to decline for Management to be in the room. Management has the Authorities best interest not yours. 

       4. While under an Investigation, CTA has the right to investigate you with a Q&A, but, you have the right to decline answering questions and to request Union Representation and call the Union Office. CTA will tell you that you have 24HRs to secure your Union Representation. 

       5. Sometimes The Management Team will come off as cool, but in reality, they have been trained to calm you down to get the more out of you. I've read Report to Managers where the members tell on each other in their investigations but then tell me I never said that and then you're stuck thinking.. damm I'm about to be up for discharge. 

Now some of the Management Team is Genuine and do care about the members, but others aren't so much. My favorite line they say is, Hey you have an Apple Watch on while operating the train, but, you have one on duty and writing me up for it. I look at them like "I guess the rules don't apply to you but you'll fully charge me without a doubt". 

I've learned not to take it personally as time has gone on in my Journey as a Local 308 Executive Board Member. Lately, I've learned to listen to the members and often remind the Management Team that the human aspect of all of this is to listen to each other and you'll learn from each other. This isn't a Manager bash moment but I'm just here to remind you all of the reality of our business. Please be safe out here Brothers and Sisters..