One would never presume that one of the most knowledgeable, unassuming and respected long-time union officials is the number one ally for cruel, union-busting CTA managers. 

That's what I thought about Brother Mark Weems too. 

When I was duly elected by members and I witnessed him orchestrate my illegal removal from an Executive Board Meeting because I passionately defended a single mother who he and his loyalists sided with the CTA to fire, I knew he was a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. He and President Pennie spearheaded the most expensive, coordinated effort in ATU Local 308 history to remove me from office. He failed miserably.

Month after month, he defended unlawful, immoral and evil CTA mismanagers' terminations of other workers. He trashed many of my own lawful, properly voted-for class action grievances. He mocked my insistence that we have Paid Sick Leave, telling his loyalists "Basir wants the CTA to pay people not to come to work."

Even when presented with clear violations and gaps of coverage within our Contract, Brother Mark is the most militant, hardcore defender of our employer. He has even boasted that he wrote the ambiguous and inhumane paragraph 8 of the Second Chance Apprentice Agreement—which he says denies them full grievance rights. 

From two-person crews, replacing all Poverty-Time jobs with Full-Time Permanent Jobs to Paid Sick Leave, he is one of the major obstacles for us. CTA mismanagement has relied on him as their hammer and fist on our Contract and sincere desire to have better working conditions.

Brother Mark is already living a comfortable life as a CTA retiree. He is pulling an estimated $70,000-$100,000 pension with the generous $120,000+ salary we pay him from our union dues. This does not include a pension exclusively set aside for long-time ATU officials. 

He has lost touch of who he was, who we are and is no longer fit to be our Vice President. He must resign immediately and a replacement should be nominated and voted on by the membership.