CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) management has been accused by a candidate for president of one of the CTA workers’ unions of unfairly and illegally attempting to thwart his campaign.
Erek Slater said management has repeatedly ordered him to leave CTA property when he's attempted to meet with workers to campaign or discuss issues.
“They have, quite illegally and improperly, attempted to impact the workers’ collective rights to decide their leadership, to decide the direction of their union, their organization,” Slater said. “Management should have nothing involved with this.”
Slater said as a member of the board of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 and a candidate for president, he is legally entitled to have those meetings.
Management, though, has repeatedly called police when he's arrived at CTA worksites, he said. Slater claimed those calls led to his arrest earlier this week.
“They called the police multiple times to remove me from the workplace,” he said. “I went to four garages to campaign, and they had police ready. I mean, it was only five minutes, when I arrived at North Park garage before calling the police.”
Slater said CTA management opposed his campaign because of his promises to confront the transit agency on issues including service delays and worker safety.
The CTA declined to comment on Slater’s claims.
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