CHICAGO (WBBM) — Spokespersons for the CTA, its operating unions and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition say Friday’s meeting between CTA Chairman Terry Peterson and the Rev. Jesse Jackson won’t be a negotiating session — just a chance for CTA to explain its side of the issues to Rev. Jackson.
Spokespersons for Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Locals 241 and 308 said they will not be a part of the meeting.
Rev. Jackson has issued statements sympathetic to the unions’ position, and has accused CTA of implementing service cuts Feb. 7 that unfairly penalized far south side residents.
CTA has denied the accusation.
Union representatives are expected to be part of a rally and meeting Saturday at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters, 950 E. 50th St.
The CTA and its unions now expect to meet Friday to discuss possible concessions that would allow service to be restored and laid-off employees recalled.
Peterson said Wednesday that he made it clear to Rev. Jackson, when setting up the meeting, that what CTA’s operating unions have offered in the way of concessions won’t work.
“We actually have gone through it point by point,” Peterson said. “It would actually cost the agency $78 million on top of the $95 million deficit that we have.”
The executive board of ATU Division 241, which represents bus drivers and maintenance personnel, was meeting Thursday to discuss whether it would agree to accept a six-month delay in the 2011 pay raise, due under terms of a five-year contract, and whether it would agree to extend the contract, with a pay freeze, through 2013.
Peterson indicated in a letter to the unions Wednesday that he would be pleased to defer next year’s pay increase until July, and would like to extend the existing contract to freeze pay in 2012 and 2013, as proposed by the union. But he said he needs $95 million in savings in 2010, and said a pay freeze two years out won’t solve the CTA’s immediate crisis.
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