Union for CTA workers raises safety concerns after recent incidents

CHICAGO — The union for Chicago Transit Authority workers is raising concerns about safety and security on buses and trains in Chicago.

ATU Local 308 members held a press conference Thursday morning, expressing to the public what CTA employees are experiencing.

They say workers fear being shot or attacked while on the job.

The members say they’ve communicated with the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Transit Authority to put safety mechanisms in place.

“My members do not feel safe. They don’t want to come to work. They do not want to work in this environment and CTA is not doing anything to make it any better for their employees,” said Pennie McCoach, President of ATU 308.

McCoach cited two recent CTA incidents.

A man was shot in a drive-by shooting near a CTA Blue Line station around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of South Cicero Avenue.

Police said the 30-year-old man was on the sidewalk when a black Nissan sedan approached and shots were fired at him. The man was transported in critical condition after sustaining several gunshot wounds to the body.

On Wednesday afternoon, a passenger came into a CTA employee’s booth and told her to call the police because “I’m going to kill you.”

McCoach said the man took an orange traffic cone and busted the window of the booth. The employee was able to lock herself in a bathroom.

“We simply have been asking CTA for years for a dedicated police service that would be responsible for CTA buses and trains. We’ve talked to the city and mayor about this. We have to do something different because what is happening is not working,” said Mark Weems, ATU 308 Vice President.

McCoach says they want bullet proof glass for all their booths.

CTA says they work closely with CPD for investigations and to ensure safety for employees.

WGN News has reached out to CPD for a response but has not yet heard back.