ATU Local 113 Welcomes You

Thanks for visiting our site. Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union was founded in Toronto in 1899 by a handful of employees of a small, privately-owned transit service. We now represent about 10,000 workers at the Toronto Transit Commission, North America’s third-largest public transit system. We also represent workers at Veolia Transportation in York Region, just north of Toronto. We’re proud of our members and the work they do that benefits public transit users, the economy of Canada’s largest city and, of course, our environment.

The Toronto Sun loves reporting on mistakes by TTC workers. Bob Kinnear says such behaviour is unacceptable but represents a very small number of workers, the vast majority of whom always perform their duties professionally.

ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear has been besieged by the media in recent days over two reports of TTC Operators texting and reading while operating vehicles. In one case, a subway passenger took a short video with a camera phone that showed a subway Operator holding a phone and pressing keys. The face of the Operator was not seen in the video. In the other, a streetcar passenger snapped a picture of the Operator holding a newspaper. Although the photo shows that the Operator’s eyes were on the road, not the newspaper, the paper should not have been in front of her during vehicle operation, even if the vehicle were stopped.

Kinnear told the media that he has publicly stated “umpteen times” that the union in no way condones any activity that might prevent 100% attention to the job at all times. He said that the “vast, vast majority of TTC workers act professionally at all times” in the interests of public safety but regrets that the very small number of exceptions focused on by the media reflects badly on everyone.

Last evening, Kinnear used Union Calling to send a message to his members about the situation. Kinnear advised them that the only defence against the media focus on these exceptions “is for each of us to continue to be the professionals we are.”

Hear Kinnear message to members.

The head of the union that represents 10,000 operating and maintenance staff of the Toronto Transit Commission says his union looks forward to working with newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer Andy Byford to improve North America’s third largest transit system.

“I’ve met with Mr. Byford a number of times since he arrived at the TTC late last year and I believe he brings a fresh, new and cooperative perspective to employee relations,” says Bob Kinnear, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.

Kinnear points out, however, that good intentions can only go so far in an overburdened, underfunded system where front line employees take the brunt of public dissatisfaction.

“The word is not the deed, as we all know. We like what Mr. Byford says about the value of TTC employees and the stresses of our jobs. But he is new to Toronto and he is taking over a management culture that has deteriorated in recent years with regard to employee respect and cooperation. Not only do some customers take out their frustrations with service deficits on front line workers, so do many front line managers, who poison the work environment.

“If you’re going to change TTC culture, start with those people, is our advice.”

Kinnear also warns Byford to be cautious with the media when it comes to employee relations.

“Trashing transit workers is a media sport in Toronto and one with no rules, even the truth,” Kinnear says. “We hope he does not get caught up in that game.”

The Executive Board and Wardens of ATU Local 113 met with Federal NDP Leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair, MP in the boardroom of the union's headquarters on Wilson Avenue in Downsview.

Canada’s largest public transit union has come out in support of NDP Member of Parliament Thomas Mulcair as the next Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. Mulcair met today with the Executive Board and Wardens of ATU Local 113 to thank them for their endorsement and to discuss how “the first NDP federal government in Canada’s history will be formed in 2015.”

“I have met personally with most of the leading candidates and have been very impressed with them all,” said Bob Kinnear, Local 113 president. The local represents 10,000 Toronto Transit Commission workers and several hundred Veolia Transportation workers in York Region. “We have a strong field for the leadership which means a bright future for our party.”

“But I was most impressed with Thomas Mulcair. There is no question in my mind that he is ready now to be Prime Minister. He has a strong command of the issues that most concern working Canadians like our members. I believe that the more Canadians see of Thomas Mulcair, the sooner they will want him to replace Stephen Harper.”

Bob Kinnear lets loose on the Ford brothers' ignorance of how transit actually works. "I'm no even sure they know how to get on the TTC," Kinnear says.

The rushed termination of TTC General Manager Gary Webster by a bare majority of the Toronto Transit Commissioners was acidly criticized by ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear as a retaliatory act by the Ford brothers, who could not fire TTC Chair Karen Stiuntz, who led the successful revolt at City Council against Mayor Ford’s subways-only plan. See here the extended interview with Kinnear on CITY-TV.