One of the most egregious, underhanded human rights violations against the Second Chance “Apprentice” Chicago Transit Authority workers is how they are punished. 

Punishment by the employer against an employee (so-called disciplinary action) holds merit on the principles of Just Cause. 

If punishment fails any tests for Just Cause, it is unjust. 

The CTA has secretly established a separate punishment guideline regarding the Second Chance "Apprentice" Program (SCP). That is, they are punished with greater severity than all the other CTA union workers. 

Why our union leadership has allowed this to occur is unknown. When I was sworn in to office in January, I pledged to stop turning a blind eye to the brutal mistreatment of my coworkers (As I write this, I am also fighting my own fellow officers who have put false charges on me for my passionate defense of my coworkers).

According to the picture above, the CTA’s “Corrective Action Guidelines (7/2012)” and their “Clarifications Specific to the Second Chance Program-Revised 2/11/15” one can clearly see evidence of disparate treatment of workers in the SCP. 

The SCP workers are not being punished according to 3 of the 7 Tests for Just Cause: Equal treatment, progressive discipline, and regard of past practice. 

This is wrong. This is immoral. This must change. See my proposed changes to the Second Chance Program in our Collective Bargaining Agreement to learn more.

On February 5th, I submitted a Class Action Grievance on behalf of the SCP workers in an attempt to stop this disparate treatment.