Photo of rude supervisor, and CTA's response to complaint
CTA Tattler readers have demanded that Justin (aka Bluebummer) share with us the photo of the supervisor who verbally harassed him this past week. And here he is.
Also, here is the response from the CTA to the complaint Bluebummer made about this guy:
"Thank you for your complaint and we're sorry you had such a confrontation on the train. Based on the details you provided, we are assuming this occurred early Sunday morning; we urgently need you to correct this if it was actually early Saturday morning.
"We cannot encourage the taking of a photograph of anyone without the subject's permission --whether to be published or not -- but we also require our employees to speak professionally with all customers at all times. Your complaint is being forwarded to the supervisors of the Blue Line for the appropriate corrective action. In the meantime, we appreciate you telling us about the situation. And for future reference, the employee's badge number is all we need for a positive identification; a photo is not necessary.
--CTA Customer Service
Click on continuation below to read Bluebummer's complaint letter:
OK so last Night I got on the Blue Line north bound from Belmont at about 12:30 am. When we arrived at Addison we were told by the operator we would be waiting for a southbound train to pass before we would be allowed to go, which was fine. we sat there a good 20 - 25 even though we had just passed a southbound train just as we were pulling out of the Belmont Station.
So I stepped out of the train and asked why we were still standing and only then was told we would be standing for another southbound train. That's when the supervisor I believe on the platform started to get an attitude with me. Badge number 32278. He then must have thought I was a problem or something and got on the train and stood right next to me. He then proceeds to ask me what my problem is trying to start an argument with me. So I take out my camera and take a picture of him to send in to you! See photo attached. I figure this is better evidence for you!
He then proceeds after the picture was taken to call me a pedophile (which I do believe is someone who likes kids...) and pervert for taking a picture of him, a strange man who I do not know. and tells me it is illegal to take photos on the train. Now from what I know as a photographer it is not illegal to take photos oh the train, as I have several times before with no problem whatsoever. So either way he proceeds to call me a pervert and radioed for the police to meet us at Jefferson park (who were not there when we arrived. Although this Supervisor and the station security followed me out of the tunnel to the bus terminal.
I am sorry but the way this supervisor handled this situation bothered me. What he did defaming my character in front of others on the train by calling me a pedophile and a pervert is more of a crime than me taking a photo of him to send in to you guys. Taking a photo of someone is not a crime. Publishing it for profit without their consent is. That is the difference.
I would like to file a complaint and report of this incidence and would like to know what action is taken against this HORRIBLE supervisor who defames and verbally assaults passengers who pay his salary! Thanks. --Justin
I do expect to receive contact back immediately or I will file a police report against the CTA. Thanks!
Well done!!
Posted by: feel kollins | May 20, 2006 at 09:26 PM
bagdge number? i don't see him wearing a badge... and CTA management wants the riders to be professional, but not the employees?!?!?! give me a f...ing break....
Posted by: Steve | May 20, 2006 at 09:34 PM
(The badge number is on his hat.)
Posted by: F®ank | May 20, 2006 at 09:57 PM
To bad you couldn't get audio!
Posted by: cmama | May 22, 2006 at 12:49 PM
To bad you couldn't get audio!
Posted by: cmama | May 22, 2006 at 12:49 PM
Yeah, you get the badge number, and then they tell you they have no one with that badge number. Or that person doesn't match the physical description. Or was confirmed on Howard/95th/OHare/Wherever else you weren't. Or whatever else. It's a genius move, though, switching the focus of attention from the asshole employee to the customer.
Get the picture. Always get the picture.
Posted by: Thomas Westgard | May 22, 2006 at 03:09 PM
i know this guy , he was a pain in the ass when he was a bus operator , he was an even bigger pain in the ass when he was a rail operator, and now that hes a supervisor, well just use your imagination.
in all seriousness from the comments i have read from , people seem under the delusion that supervision or , being a supervisor is a positional of management. which is entirely not true.
the lowest form of management that there is at the CTA is what's called a "Transportation Manager" which would be one of the first people that you would talk to regarding a complaint that a person might have.
being a supervisor is not there to be an authority figure for the operator's (buses & trains) but more as a co-worker. They are only there to help us.
i am a current employee of the
Chicago Transit Authority and i wouldn't want a supervisor to reflect my actions.
thank you , and i hope this helps
Posted by: CTA Employee | March 15, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I've lived in this city for 35 years and have had MANY strange and awful experiences with CTA employees. I was once denied entree to a bus because the driver had seen me bending over to retie my shoe and accused me of picking up a used ticket from the ground. Never mind that I was in office attire and clearly headed for work at 8a.m. on a weekday.
Asking for help at a kiosk and being threatened by a woman "in the cage" for asking if the trains were running. This was at a Loop Red Line station -the platform was deserted.
Being thrown off of a bus for asking the driver to STOP! I had rung for the stop, the ringer was working - I guess he didn't hear me. He called the police. This was at Sheridan and Foster.
The people in the cages - I have never, ever had a good experience with them: They either don't know, give you bad info, or are downright hostile. You are better off asking people what you need to know on the platform. It's sad, how many drivers don't know the city, don't know the routes - it didn't used to be this way. The good people started leaving in the late 80's, early 90's, as the union contracts had been bargained down or removed completely. There used to be good people that had been there for years that you could rely on. It isn't like that any longer, as all of you can see.
Posted by: xtina | March 16, 2008 at 05:43 AM