Return to Work Unjustly Fired CTA Workers! Defend Democratic Rights at the Workplace!
Return to Work Unjustly Fired CTA Workers! Defend Democratic Rights at the Workplace!
The Issue
Chicago, the center of many historic wins for the workers movement, is in the crosshairs of attacks on democratic rights. Public transportation in the Chicago region has become unsafe to passengers as well as for the public workers who perform some of the hardest and most essential work.
Multiple transit workers have filed formal labor charges against the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) appealing to you, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Board to stop the CTAs illegal actions. This Board is meeting on Oct 23, 2025 (10am, 160 N La Salle Street, Rm S-401). We expect a vote on the case where the CTA fired a union shop steward for discussing with coworkers the use of CTA buses to transport police to demonstrations against the murder of George Floyd.
Workers are more than capable of deciding their own views and opinions. We don't need appointed managers and administrators telling workers what they should and should not talk about, especially regarding important issues such as state violence and the use of public resources. More than anyone else, workers who do the actual complex, dangerous and difficult work must have the space to decide their views democratically. More than anyone else, workers can develop real solutions for the crisis of public needs such as public transportation. Workers are overwhelmingly responsible leaders of families and their communities. They and their elected representatives and organizations must not be shut up.
The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act is important to protect because it is supposed to defend the rights of workers to organize themselves for mutual aid and protection.
We request that you immediately publicly, and in writing, order the CTA to immediately return the nearly 20-year veteran Bus Operator and three-time elected union Executive Board Member, Erek Slater, to his job and make him and his family whole again. Similarly, we request you return to work 8-year veteran Bus Operator and candidate for Executive Board Member, Robert Thomas back to work and make him whole.
On October 23rd, members of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Board have the chance to defend the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act by directing the CTA to stop breaking the very law that you are entrusted to protect. We urge you to vote in favor of workers’ rights to organize and communicate without retaliation. We urge you to sustain the workers' charges against the employer and immediately return outspoken defenders of workers rights back to work!
More information:
247
The Issue
Chicago, the center of many historic wins for the workers movement, is in the crosshairs of attacks on democratic rights. Public transportation in the Chicago region has become unsafe to passengers as well as for the public workers who perform some of the hardest and most essential work.
Multiple transit workers have filed formal labor charges against the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) appealing to you, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Board to stop the CTAs illegal actions. This Board is meeting on Oct 23, 2025 (10am, 160 N La Salle Street, Rm S-401). We expect a vote on the case where the CTA fired a union shop steward for discussing with coworkers the use of CTA buses to transport police to demonstrations against the murder of George Floyd.
Workers are more than capable of deciding their own views and opinions. We don't need appointed managers and administrators telling workers what they should and should not talk about, especially regarding important issues such as state violence and the use of public resources. More than anyone else, workers who do the actual complex, dangerous and difficult work must have the space to decide their views democratically. More than anyone else, workers can develop real solutions for the crisis of public needs such as public transportation. Workers are overwhelmingly responsible leaders of families and their communities. They and their elected representatives and organizations must not be shut up.
The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act is important to protect because it is supposed to defend the rights of workers to organize themselves for mutual aid and protection.
We request that you immediately publicly, and in writing, order the CTA to immediately return the nearly 20-year veteran Bus Operator and three-time elected union Executive Board Member, Erek Slater, to his job and make him and his family whole again. Similarly, we request you return to work 8-year veteran Bus Operator and candidate for Executive Board Member, Robert Thomas back to work and make him whole.
On October 23rd, members of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Board have the chance to defend the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act by directing the CTA to stop breaking the very law that you are entrusted to protect. We urge you to vote in favor of workers’ rights to organize and communicate without retaliation. We urge you to sustain the workers' charges against the employer and immediately return outspoken defenders of workers rights back to work!
More information:
247
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on October 4, 2025