Up to 700 new posts to benefit rail customersUPDATED BELOW ORIGINAL POST
In a plan designed to better serve Chicago Transit Authority rail customers and promote job opportunities for Chicagoans, the CTA is creating up to 700 positions to provide customer assistance at ‘L’ stations throughout the city.
The new Customer Service Assistant (CSA) positions will aid rail station customers in a variety of ways, from answering questions and helping customers with disabilities to handling or reporting problems with station equipment and facilities.
“These 700 new positions are excellent job opportunities that will allow many Chicagoans to return to work, in our city’s neighborhoods, in important roles that help their fellow residents,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am pleased that CTA’s labor agreement allowed for the hiring of these positions and look forward to seeing the customer service assistants on the ‘L’ platforms in the coming weeks and months.”
The new CSAs will complement CTA’s existing staff of approximately 200 full-time Customer Assistants, who are assigned to the busiest rail stations and at peak ridership hours, including those along the CTA’s two 24-hour rail lines, the Red and Blue lines. The new, part-time CSA positions will ensure staffing at all of the CTA’s 145 rail stations. Most CSAs will work during lower-traffic hours where privately contracted workers are currently used, with expanded job duties and additional training to better serve customers. Both Customer Assistants—who will receive a new job title of Customer Service Representative—and CSAs will have direct contact with CTA’s Control Center, to assist in providing information about service issues and other customer information.
The CTA will host two job fairs to seek candidates for the new positions: February 22 at the JLM Life Center and March 23 at Clemente High School. Both fairs run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The new jobs stem from the historic labor agreement reached in November 2012 between CTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus and rail workers.
“Our goal is to increase the level of service to our customers and to promote job opportunities that benefit our region’s economy,” CTA President Forrest Claypool said. “As CTA employees, these new CSAs will receive extensive training in all facets of customer service, so they’re able to address a wide range of requests from our riders. As part of the CTA family, they will be well-equipped to promote a positive customer experience.”
The move is anticipated to result in cost savings to the CTA as well, with projected savings of around $2 million annually over the current cost for contracted workers. CSAs will be paid between $12 and $14 hourly, and receive health care benefits. The workers will be members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local #308, which represents rail workers.
The new positions mark the second time in less than a year the CTA has hosted job fairs seeking candidates for customer-facing positions. Last summer CTA hosted three job fairs seeking more than 400 bus drivers in conjunction with the Red Line South reconstruction project beginning May 2013. Those 400+ have been hired, and the CTA continues to hire candidates from those fairs to fill other driver vacancies.
CTA has used rail Customer Assistants since 1997, when ticket agents were phased out as CTA moved toward electronic farecards.
More information about the job fairs is posted on our Careers page. http://www.transitchicago.com/careers/
AS POSTED by Chicago Transit Authority; 2/21/2013
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=3147
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UPDATE -the link below will take you to current CTA CAREERS webpage ...
Chicago Transit Authority is hiring customer service assistants. The position pays $12.40 per hour and offers benefits and growth potential.
Military veterans in particular are encouraged to apply. CTA is an equal opportunity employer. Interviews will not be conducted at the job fairs; you will be contacted after the event if CTA selects you to interview for a position.
Job candidates must be 21 or older, pass drug and alcohol tests and a criminal background check, be able to understand and follow oral and written instructions, be able to pass a basic test of customer service skills, accurately perform basic arithmetic, communicate clearly both in writing and speaking and maintain a neat and professional appearance.
Please contact CTA for additional questions, and CTA career's
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