CTA Cuts: Tribune Editorial Says Unions, Riders Must Make Concessions

Chicago Tribune:

Gov. Quinn's deal not to raise fares has left the CTA with few options to balance its budget. He was looking ahead to the election and listening to commuters howl about how they couldn't afford to get to work. We suspect a lot of riders who were shivering on the "L" platform Monday morning would suddenly welcome the chance to pay another 75 cents to catch their train on time. But that's off the table.

Also untouchable are the free rides guaranteed to senior citizens, rich and poor, by the benevolent ex- Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Quinn promised to veto lawmakers' attempt to rescind that gratuitous gesture, which costs the transit system up to $60 million a year. Gutless lawmakers didn't even try to muster the votes for an override.

All of this left the unions feeling even more intransigent than usual. In the end they decided they'd rather send 1,100 workers to the unemployment line than make the kind of concessions their nonunion colleagues have already swallowed.

Read the whole story: Chicago Tribune

Comments

[crookedcountyillinois]

02:14 PM on 02/09/2010

Unions I support. Public unions are a slight to taxpayers everywhere, and the citizens, taxpayers, and commuters benefit from competition and lower wages. And the many shouldn't have sacrifice to support the few - who come back and demand more money from Illinois and push service cuts every year.

The solution is simple. No free rides to seniors. No union labor. No pensiond. No six-figure salaries. No fare hikes. No service cuts.

Keep the trains moving safely, and if anyone drags their feet - fire them.