The Chicago Transit Authority is hiring back some of its recently laid-off bus and train operators, President Richard Rodriguez told the agency’s board today, but it’s not an effort to restore February’s service cuts.
Instead, it’s a move to replace CTA workers who are retiring, and it’s required by law for a year after layoffs. New jobs aren't being created or restored —staffing will stay at the same post-service-cut levels.
A total of 29 full-time and five part-time bus and train operators have been hired back since the layoffs, Rodriguez said.
About 20 to 30 workers leave the CTA per month — some retiring, some fired — and they’ll be replaced by recently laid off workers in order of seniority, he said.
Rodriguez and Board Chairman Terry Peterson trumpeted the rehirings, saying the CTA has made it a priority to fill the openings so service doesn’t get any worse than February’s cuts.
The CTA is obligated to rehire the laid-off employees until next February, but after that, the workers are no longer guaranteed the open spots. They’ll have to apply for the openings like anyone else, Rodriguez said.