Chicago: CTA plans shut down strike on 01/20/08

[Roy McDowell]

This morning I heard on the news during the Don & Roma show on source: www.wlsam.com WLS 890 am (Chicago's talk station) that CTA plans to go ahead with a strike set for January 20, 2008 after talks with state legislative leaders have deteriorated once again. In the last session, Mayor Daley walked out in fustration because the state simply doesn't get it. The CTA warns that it will stick with it's plans to strike if a funded resolution doesn't come to pass. I really hope the state understands how crucial this is especially when it could directly effect the economy in an area that holds the state's majority population. Why isn't the governor on board with this? I would like to know what some of you think if CTA shuts down the trains and buses for one day how much of an impact would it have on the companies and employees who use the system? Do you think this would be a wise response on city's part? You would think with the Olympic bidding taking place that the state would take transportation serious.

[Attrill]

The Trib has an article about this. Technically, it's a "job action", not a strike. The contract the CTA workers negotiated expires if the transportation bill isn't passed by 12/31, and the pension fund could be declared bankrupt if the bill doesn't pass, so it's understandable. They made healthcare and pension concessions in the contract, and it would be a nightmare to restart the contract negotiation process.

The stupidest thing is that ALL politicians agree that funding for the RTA is important, but they're fighting over whose plan they should use to fix the problem. Apparently public transportation is not as important as their egos.

[MayorOfChicago]

I have no clue how i'd get to work. I'm certainly not walking 4 miles in January. Call in sick?

[Mr Roboto]

Originally Posted by Attrill

Apparently public transportation is not as important as their egos.

Thats politicians for you, just replace "public transportation" in that sentence with any other important issue affecting citizens. Its fucking ridiculous.

Whats ironic to me, is that most of my representatives dont even have public email addresses to contact them. And out of the ones that do (I have been emailing about the CTA fiasco), only Tom Cross (R) has responded, but he always attaches his "need to also provide funding for suburban highways" etc to his automated response. So yeah, I dont understand why they cant just treat this as a seperate item and get it done. When it comes to teamwork, egos are usually the biggest roadblock to achievement.

[k1052]

I'm honestly surprised this hadn't come up sooner than it has. The RTA should not have accepted the short term bail outs and stuck to their guns. It seems the only way to actually make the legislature and governor come to an actual agreement is to take them to the wall.

A mass transit shutdown in one of the coldest months of the year should make for some really nice negative press and hopefully smash a few politicians careers.

[Roy McDowell]

So what are you guys going to do that day if you don't have a car to drive? Walking and freezing your ass off is one option or simply waving down a taxi cab.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Roy McDowell

So what are you guys going to do that day if you don't have a car to drive? Walking and freezing your ass off is one option or simply waving down a taxi cab.

I just hope there's a lot of snow on the ground so I can Ski to work

I'd say it's still unlikely the doomsday plan or the shutdown will happen - maybe a 1 in 4 chance. Most likely a permanent solution will be found, but the chances it will happen are increasing with every day that passes without a solution, and if nothing is solved by the second week of December it will be 50/50 that doomsday will happen.

[Roy McDowell]

If it does happen I can only begin to imagine what the outcome would be as a result of it. I would probably call in sick that day.

[Kngkyle©]

They should do it sooner than 1/20/08. Just for 1 day though, to show what would happen without mass transit. Metra should also just shut down for a day. It would be the much needed wake up call for the state that transit is extremely vital for the economy.

[j korzeniowski]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle2

They should do it sooner than 1/20/08. Just for 1 day though, to show what would happen without mass transit. Metra should also just shut down for a day. It would be the much needed wake up call for the state that transit is extremely vital for the economy.

i am all for a strike to pound it to some of these peoples' thick skulls (politicians and the belligerently ignorant posters/readers at tribune.com) how important this issue is.

i say begin it at 12:01am dec 31st. no one gets around new year's eve/day for a penny, suburbanites in the city (or trying to get into the city) see this is Fing important, the city itself gets less money and needs to kick in more money a la toronto, and so on.

that this is an issue is so fucking ridiculous that it truly amazes me.

[Roy McDowell]

You know what. It just dawned on me...I wonder if the Olympic commitee members are watching. The media needs to keep this under wrap....shhhh...be quite everyone.