Teamsters, BLET, BMWED Oppose Merger of Illinois Transit Agencies

Coalition of Rail Unions Stands Against Merging Illinois Transit Agencies

Contact: Matt McQuaid | Phone: (771) 241-0015 | Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) – In a unified voice, leaders of several significant transportation unions have declared their opposition to the proposed merger of key transit agencies in Illinois. The opposition comes amidst budgetary challenges faced by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which oversees crucial services like the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace.

The Teamsters, representing a broad spectrum of workers involved with these agencies, emphasize the critical need for the state to address the RTA's financial deficit, which exceeds $700 million. Central to their proposal is the "United We Move" legislation, designed to enhance safety and service quality without merging the entities.

Thomas W. Stiede of Teamsters Joint Council 25, along with Cory Martin of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and Anthony Sessa of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), collectively argue that merging the CTA, Metra, and Pace would lead to "dysfunction, unnecessary rigmarole, and worse service for passengers."

The proposed legislation, supported by State Senator Ram Villivalam and Assistant House Majority Leader Marcus Evans, seeks to implement reforms that benefit workers, taxpayers, and customers alike. It calls for enhanced coordination and oversight among the agencies without restructuring them into a single entity.

With deep roots going back to its founding in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million members across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. To learn more about their initiatives, visit Teamster.org and follow them on social media.