The Illinois Transportation Labor Association (ITLA) is a powerful coalition of transit labor unions, united to advocate for hardworking, transportation union members and to improve public transportation. ITLA is the primary advocacy organization for public transit. Together we are building the future.

CHICAGO TRANSIT IS EXPECTED TO HIT A $735 MILLION FISCAL CLIFF IN 2025

History shows when transportation unions band together, we can win a seat at the table, save jobs and successfully use our collective voice to advocate for the future of public transportation. In order to win public funds to finance the fix, we need new, upgraded and integrated service lines, including high-speed rail. Increasing ridership means more jobs and more jobs means more union members.

History shows when transportation unions band together, we can win a seat at the table, save jobs and successfully use our collective voice to advocate for the future of public transportation. In order to win public funds to finance the fix, we need new, upgraded and integrated service lines, including high-speed rail. Increasing ridership means more jobs and more jobs means more union members.

New Commuter Era:

• The share of people in the office full time has dropped about 40-50% since 2019
• Metra ridership is down 53% since 2019

Funding Facts:

• Chicago public transit is facing a projected $735 million fiscal cliff
• Dwindling ridership means drastically less revenue
• Federal pandemic relief funds run out in 2025

Union Impact:

• Service cuts and job loss

• Subpar bargaining agreements

• Healthcare plan cuts

• Pension cuts due to unfunded liability

• Reduced wages lead to member opt outs

• Potential for public transit to completely shut down

New Commuter Era:

• The share of people in the office full time has dropped about 40-50% since 2019
• Metra ridership is down 53% since 2019

Funding Facts:

• Chicago public transit is facing a projected $735 million fiscal cliff
• Dwindling ridership means drastically less revenue
• Federal pandemic relief funds run out in 2025

Union Impact:

• Service cuts and job loss
• Subpar bargaining agreements
• Healthcare plan cuts
• Pension cuts due to unfunded liability
• Reduced wages lead to member opt outs
• Potential for public transit to completely shut down

Campaign Goals:

• Address the need for federal operating funding for public transit agencies and high-speed rail. This is not just about maintaining our current services but about ensuring the future of public transportation. When we build ridership, we build power. 
• Expand beyond Illinois to build state public transportation labor coalitions focusing on mutual labor bargaining and legislative and high-speed rail concerns.
• Establish a new state legislative agenda for public transportation. This agenda will be instrumental in enhancing our current labor protections and ensuring that they are not rolled back when the legislatures addresses the mass transit fiscal cliff.
• Move towards an aggressive approach to unseat non-friendly labor board members from the transit agency and ensure that labor has a seat and/or pro-labor board members overseeing the transportation agency.
• Develop a strategic organizing campaign plan and target non-union public transit locations. This would include an internal organizing campaign to sign up former union members who have opted out due to the loss of fair share (Janus v. AFSCME).

Together We Can:

• Gain the ability to coordinate an all transit strike

• Save jobs, increase ridership and move our nation’s mass transit systems into the future

• Potential job gain numbers (nationally):
  • 902 transit agencies in the United States
  • 13,895 transit agency routes In the United States
  • 544,823 transit stop locations in the United States
  • 430,00 people employed at public transportation agencies