For the past three years I have been organizing some of the CTA's exploited workers.  

Currently, there are four groups: Customer Service Assistant, Second Chance "Apprentice", Full-Time Temporary Flagmen and Part-Time Bus Operator. My focus as been the Second Chancers. The others are not arbitrarily terminated. Nonetheless, they deserve attention as well.

My public petition to reform or abolish the Second Chance Program (SCP) is one of those efforts. It is part of my responsibility as an elected union officer in the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308. The above photo is from the terrible wounds suffered by a SCP worker who was violated, denied a chance for Full-Time employment—all because he spoke up about the working conditions.

In summary, the SCP is a noble initiative that has devolved into a form of second-class status in the CTA for our society's most vulnerable people: Ex-felons. Not all have been "locked up." However, most have paid their debt to society (or paid a debt from wrongful incarceration). 

Read more at my blog…