One union is tying the tension to an ongoing dispute over the operation of Metra’s three Union Pacific lines, which run north to Kenosha, northwest to McHenry County and west to Elburn. The dispute remains in court, but if Metra ends up taking over operation of the lines from Union Pacific the agency will have to negotiate with the unions, which could be difficult given the state of contract talks, said Brian Shanahan, another national vice president for the Transportation Communications Union.
