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* Some background is here if you need it. Press release…
The following is a joint statement from Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter and Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s proposed legislation to fully fund public transit in Northeastern Illinois and consolidate its transit service boards.
Public transit is a critical public service that connects workers to their workplace, school, healthcare and their daily lives. According to the Economic Policy Institute, transportation ranks among the largest monthly expenditures for families of four, on par with food, childcare, housing and healthcare. Maintaining reliable and safe public transit is critical for the working families who power nearly every sector of our local economy. Therefore, finding a solution that fully funds transit is one of our top priorities.
We agree with CMAP’s call for the Illinois General Assembly to increase state funding for transit in Northeastern Illinois, as CTA, METRA, and PACE are essential to the regional economy.
However, we must caution that consolidating our vital regional transit boards into a singular centralized entity would erect a web of bureaucratic barriers between the workers who both operate and utilize our public transit system and the board members tasked with overseeing its success. We cannot support a proposal that erodes the direct communication channels that currently exist to provide the public with a voice in our public transit system.
We look forward to continuing conversations about optimizing our public transit system and commend Senator Ram Villivalam and Representative Eva Dina Delgado for taking the lead on shaping legislation that will affect Illinoisans for generations to come.
Labor is committed to fully funding our public transit agencies to increase the economic mobility of workers in our region. Any reforms to the current structure of these agencies must be done in a thoughtful manner that supports the workers who operate these lines and the public our transit system serves. We’re committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver a solution that addresses the impending fiscal cliff and prioritizes maintaining and improving a safe and reliable transit service for all.
* Related…
* Illinois Lawmakers Unveil Proposal to Merge CTA, Metra and Pace; Plan Would Replace RTA and Add $1.5B in New Funding: “The upcoming fiscal cliff facing transit is a moment that demands we reimagine transit so it is the first choice for people to travel, not a service of last resort,” said Derek Douglas, president of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. “To achieve this goal, we need reforms. We cannot just throw more money at the same system at the same problems and expect a different result.”
* Illinois lawmakers unveil plan to combine Metra, CTA and Pace into one: “The intent behind the consolidation is more about being a more responsive transit agency, to make sure that we’re not kind of in our own little silos providing certain services,” said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, a Democrat representing the Northwest Side.
…Adding… Illinois Transportation Labor Association Chairman J.J. Balonek…
“The Illinois Transportation Labor Association (ITLA) strongly supports proposals for additional funding for transportation in Northern Illinois and believes the funds are critical to making sure access to public transportation is available to residents throughout the region. However, any changes to the current structure need to protect the rights that members of labor have secured in over a century of holding employers accountable. ITLA supports a voting labor member on any transit board to ensure our voices are heard. We are looking forward to working together with the stakeholders as this vital legislation evolves.”
The ITLA is a group of transportation labor unions advocating for labor reform in Illinois. ITLA represents thousands of Illinois transit workers across the state.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 11:39 am
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===a singular centralized entity would erect a web of bureaucratic barriers===
So one point of contact is worse than trying to coordinate across potentially two to four agencies?
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 11:46 am
- thechampaignlife - Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 11:46 am:
It destroys labor’s ability to play the boards against each other as far as contract negotiations (”See look, what the CTA did for their bus drivers,” etc.). However, that is not a good reason to not consolidate.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 11:54 am
I also am in favor of giving me more money without forcing me to make any other changes to my life
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 12:24 pm
Surprise, surprise: a public union wants more taxpayer money but no changes to the spigot out of which it flows.
Comment by DougChicago Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 1:13 pm
Doug, not sure what your definition of a “public union” is, but the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor are not that.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 1:18 pm
Surprise, surprise: a privately owned, for profit corporation wants more taxpayer money but no changes to the spigot out of which it flows. Fixed. /s
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 1:33 pm
A labor representative on every board makes a lot of sense. Helps to keep communication open and reduce needless antagonism. It’s common in a lot of Northern European countries to require private companies to have a third or half of their corporate board seats held by labor unions, so that they (as a really important stakeholder) are part of corporate planning and management.
It’s kind of odd that organized labor isn’t a part of most boards if you think about it. Yes, there’s negotiations to be had, but that’s true of every stakeholder including investors or taxpayers.
Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 2:22 pm
The MTA’s service area in New York City region includes parts of Connecticut. It seems like all the stakeholders can work to increase regional coordinating and planning first then assure any of labor’s concerns later.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Apr 30, 24 @ 2:47 pm