Teamsters and Allies: United We Move for Public Transit Reform

Teamsters Joint Council 25, BLET, BMWED Unite in Opposition to Agency Mergers

Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (771) 241-0015 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) – The following is a joint statement from Thomas W. Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25; Cory Martin, Illinois State Legislative Board Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and Anthony Sessa, General Chairman of the United Passenger Rail Federation, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED):

“The Teamsters represent thousands of workers employed by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) under the three organizations it oversees — the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace. Our union also represents tens of thousands of workers who rely on these services to get to and from their jobs every day.

“As the RTA faces a budget shortfall of more than $700 million, it’s apparent to everyone in Illinois that the state must step in and save its public transportation system. The best way to do this is through United We Move. The United We Move legislation will establish stronger safety measures at all three agencies, improve service through increased coordination, and reform the governing boards of RTA agencies in ways that benefit workers, taxpayers, and customers. What it will not do is merge the CTA, Metra, and Pace into a single agency — a measure that would create dysfunction, unnecessary rigmarole, and worse service for passengers.

“The BLET, BMWED, and Joint Council 25 look forward to working with our allies in the labor movement, the state legislature, and across Illinois on not just addressing the issues with RTA agencies but improving it for generations to come.”

The United We Move legislation is backed by State Senator Ram Villivalam, Assistant House Majority Leader Marcus Evans, and the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, a multi-union partnership that includes BLET, BMWED, and all other Illinois Teamsters affiliates with members employed by RTA agencies.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

The United We Move legislation, backed by a coalition of labor unions and state legislators, aims to address the budget shortfall of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) without resorting to a merger of its constituent agencies. The proposed bill seeks to strengthen the RTA's oversight, find a fiscally responsible solution to funding the plan, modify the farebox recovery ratio, improve coordination and safety measures, and enhance board qualifications and accountability. By focusing on these areas, the legislation aims to improve the financial stability and overall efficiency of the RTA and its constituent agencies without merging them into a single entity. Instead, it focuses on structural reforms and better coordination to meet the present and future demands of public transportation in Illinois.

The United We Move legislation also aims to implement specific safety measures and service improvements to address the concerns of workers, taxpayers, and customers. These include creating a new police force to patrol CTA, Metra, and Pace routes, improving coordination among transit agencies, modifying the farebox recovery ratio, adopting standardized fares across the transit systems, and heightening qualifications for board members. By implementing these changes, the legislation seeks to enhance safety, improve service, and ensure sustainable funding for the transit system, ultimately benefiting all Illinoisans.

The Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, a multi-union partnership that includes BLET, BMWED, and all other Illinois Teamsters affiliates with members employed by RTA agencies, plans to work with the state legislature and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the United We Move legislation. The alliance is committed to addressing the issues with RTA agencies and improving the public transportation system for generations to come. By working together, the labor alliance, state legislators, and other stakeholders can address the fiscal cliff and ensure that the public transportation system in Illinois remains strong and reliable for all users.