For Immediate Release

6:30am 02/11/16
Transit Workers Defend Democratic Rights at the Workplace Against Attack by the CTA
Chicago's transit workers and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) members rally at CTA headquarters
downtown against suppression of union activity.
Chicago, IL ___ ATU members will be joined by community supporters and members of other unions
to protest against the attack on their union and elected leadership today, February 11, at 9 am. They will
gather at the CTA headquarters located at 567 W. Lake Street and attempt to meet with CTA president
Carter, ahead of a termination hearing scheduled today to demand that trumped up charges against their
elected Executive Board Member be dropped and that CTA management respect transit workers for the
hard and important work they do.
There will be a press conference at 9:30 am. at the same location when ATU members, elected leaders,
and community leaders will speak.
On Friday, February 5, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) initiated removal proceedings against a 10
year veteran bus driver and the current elected shop steward and executive board member of the
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 241, Erek Slater. He is the elected union representative of
over 600 working families at the North Park CTA bus garage.
Erek states, "I am being accused of a behavioral violation because I responded to a coworker's
request to investigate a possible violation of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is only the
latest in a continuous string of attacks and intimidation against workers of the CTA and our union. The
false allegations are a blatant attempt to remove a union officer and intimidate workers from using our
legitimate authority and collective power to defend ourselves, our families, and our communities."
The workers uniting against CTA 's assault against union activity say that these false charges are an
escalation in a documented history of attacks on union rights. They assert that because a union steward
is being threatened with discharge for attempting to protect the contract and union members, this is an
assault against the 10,000 member union and its long history. It is important to note that this attack is
occurring after the union contract has expired and during contract negotiations. The ATU workers
organizing the rally are claiming that CTA's unfair and illegal tactics are part of the state-wide and
national attack on union and democratic rights.