Safety of CTA workers

As we all return to activities we sorely missed during the pandemic, let us not forget the people who carried us through these challenging times: our city’s essential workers. Among those dedicated public servants are CTA’s front-line employees — thousands of men and women who oversee our rail stations and navigate our city’s streets to allow us to see loved ones, earn a living and enjoy our great city.

Just as CTA employees kept our city running during the pandemic, they are there for us now as we step back into our lives. As transit workers, these individuals are trained for the myriad circumstances awaiting them as they manage everything from harsh weather to rushhour crowds — all while working to stay on schedule.

But the unfortunate reality is that CTA operators too often also face verbal and physical attacks by members of the public. An assault on any CTA employee is absolutely unacceptable, and we as an agency have zero tolerance for anyone seeking to harm our employees.

That’s why the CTA has put in place numerous systems and protocols to keep our employees safe, including our close coordination with city and suburban police departments, and the pursuit of the strongest charges possible against those harming our workers.

But we all play a part in ensuring these workers — who came out to help us in our greatest time of need — are safe and protected while at work. Do your part by treating our employees with the respect and dignity they have earned and so deeply deserve.

— Dorval R. Carter Jr., president, Chicago Transit Authority