CTA claims bus driver broke the rules

CHICAGO — Sandra Simmons says she’s done nothing wrong and the CTA is trying to make an example of her.

The CTA bus driver acknowledges that she distributed a flier a few weeks ago that tells workers to refuse overtime, which they’re entitled to do.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she said.

Simmons has the support of her union.

Amalgamated Transit Union vice-president Larry Muhammad said union executives have issued at least two memos stating the same thing as her flyer — that drivers can refuse overtime.

Simmons said one of the reasons she passed out the flier was to inform the the new, young drivers about exactly the union’s memos.

“They don’t understand that overtime is, is very stressful, very tiresome and the last thing you want as a bus operator is driving up and down the street, stressful and tired,” she said.

A CTA representative contacted by FOX Chicago would not go on camera and would not refer directly to Sandra Simmons by name, but said a driver who passed out fliers engaged in an “illegal job action” and “encouraged other employees to violate rules.”

Leaders of the bus drivers’ union allege CTA executives are pressing for overtime because of the recent layoff of more than 1,000 bus drivers and train operators.

“They’re so short right now, that they want to use Ms. Simmons as an example, to make these people know, you better work this overtime or else you’ll get what she’s going to get,” said Larry Muhammad.

“We understand the CTA is going through a hard time, but don’t try to make an example out of one of the workers, just to make that point.”

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.