I am a Career College student attending Everest and Yes I am on EI and Yes I am also using OSAP so my budget is tight and I wonder how the TTC came to the conclusion that it was appropriate to exclude these particular group from saving $12-$22 ? Well I would like to know what your position is on this thank you

Felix, Toronto

Note from ATU: Felix, the union has absolutely no input on fares and that is how it should be. The Commission is made up of politically accountable City Councillors, which is as it should be. We can say, however, that the union regrets that people who have no alternative to public transit find the cost a barrier. The real problem, however, lies in the lack of financial support of the TTC by the provincial and federal governments. They talk a lot about reducing pollution and road congestion but it is only talk. They suck billions of tax dollars out of Toronto and put very little back. We sympathize with your plight but can only advise you to vote accordingly.

Now I wonder if you people at the Union know if management has any desire to sell this $99 pass under the MDP anytime soon

Felix, Toronto

Note from ATU: Sorry, we don’t know. Visit http://www3.ttc.ca/ for contact information.

Felix, Toronto

Note from ATU: Felix, we have often pointed out to management that there are not enough staff available to be able to promptly respond to situations such as you describe. We regret what happened but the union has no control over staffing levels.

Rudy, Toronto

The Candy Man, Scarborough

Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher and Chinese Canadian East Toronto Chamber of Commerce President Bernard Loh meet with Bob Kinnear at the Canada Day celebration in Riverdale Park.

As part of Toronto’s transit workers’ Community Outreach Program, Local 113 President Bob Kinnear celebrated Canada’s 143rd birthday with over 2,000 members of the Chinese Community in Riverdale Park near Broadview and Gerrard. The annual event is organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and is co-sponsored by several Chinese community organizations. Also in attendance were Toronto Danforth Ward 30 City Councillor Paula Fletcher, NDP Federal Leader Jack Layton, MPP Peter Tabuns and Toronto School Board Trustee Cathy Dandy. The popular Lena Ma, Miss World Canada 2009, also made an appearance. 

Bob Kinnear is warmly introduced to the 2,000+ crowd by Councillor Paula Fletcher

“Transit is a vital part of our city,” said Fletcher.  “We need to support our publicly funded transit system to keep Toronto moving.” 

Kinnear spent over three hours mingling with the crowd and meeting various community leaders to discuss ways in which the union could work together with their organizations to make the TTC better. 

“This was a wonderful opportunity to meet members of the Chinese community and their leaders to talk about transit issues,” said Kinnear. 

“As a union we are committed to working with Toronto’s diverse communities on transit because we all know that transit is a major immigrant issue. We need to get to know one another better and find ways to work together to improve service and press for more funding from governments. 

“We will definitely be following up on the contacts we made at this great event.” 

Joyce Williams with the appreciation plaque presented to her by the Mahavihara Buddhist Temple. Bob Kinnear attended and participated in the ceremony on behalf of Local 113 members.

An ATU Local 113 member was honoured today by the Toronto Buddhist community. The Scarborough Mahavihara Buddhist Temple paid tribute to bus operator Joyce Williams at their east end temple for her heroic act last year. The temple is a place of worship and meditation for many new Canadians from the South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka.

Williams was driving on Kingston Road past the temple in the early hours of November 27, 2009 when she noticed smoke coming from the wooden building. Williams called 911 and waited for emergency vehicles to arrive. Later, it was discovered that the blaze was deliberately set by someone using gasoline. 

Vice-president of the temple, Ben Seneviratne, called Williams a true hero and said that temple members could never thank her enough for her courage. “Others would have kept driving or would not have even noticed the fire,” he said. “Part of our Buddhist teachings is to be mindful or aware of our surroundings. Joyce Williams demonstrated that awareness on the day that our temple was in danger. We will never forget what she has done.” 

Temple members and Sunday Dhamma School children presented Williams with flowers, a plaque, and gifts for her family. Flanked by her husband, children and other family members, an emotional Williams was clearly touched by the recognition. “All I can say is thank you for your kind words,” said Williams. “This means so much to me.”

Bob Kinnear, president of ATU Local 113, attended the tribute and took part in an oil lighting ceremony. “Joyce Williams exemplifies all of the hardworking members of ATU Local 113 and their commitment to our city.  Our members play an important role in protecting the safety of Toronto’s communities. On behalf of the union, we are so proud of Joyce’s professionalism and dedication to her job.”

About 300 temple members gathered on Saturday for William’s recognition, as well as the Deputy Counsel for Sri Lanka in Toronto, who glowingly extended his country’s gratitude to her.

Joyce spotted smoke coming from this temple at 1:30 am while driving her bus on Kingston Road. She immediately called 911 and waited for the firefighters to arrive. They came quickly and were able to contain the fire and save the temple. If they had arrived a few minutes later, it would have been too late. The Sri Lankan community that built the temple praised Joyce as a heroine.

The hundreds who attended the Buddhist ceremony inside the temple gave Joyce and her family a standing ovation - twice!

I watch with a bit of patience as the time at this point is now 12:11 watching him use paper towels to wipe the windshields over and over. Now I have been on this driver’s bus before and he has done the same thing at Eglinton Station and again at certain intervals of that trip.

Now for this day May 30th he did this over and over again and the time NOW was 12:18pm!!!!! now he’s supposed to be up at the top at 12 50 and anyone in their right mind knows he will be late up there. I lost my patience threw my bad on the floor from my seat at the back and asked the driver in a calm tone and asked ” Are we leaving anytime soon?”

His reply: “I want to make sure this bus is ok for me is that ok?” It is important to note he was speaking this in a confrontational manner. I went back to my seat and by the time he got going it was 12:20 pm def unacceptable.

Alright ATU 113 How will you try to justify this?

Felix, Toronto

Note from ATU: Felix, Were you really that inconvenienced? A Bus Operator is responsible for the safe operation of his or her vehicle. If there are delays caused by ensuring that the vehicle is safe in every respect, the vast majority of our customers would understand and approve. From your own account, the Operator was diligently performing his duty. You obviously think he was too diligent but we’re sure you wouldn’t feel the same if you were delayed a few minutes in an airplane by the pilot taking steps to ensure his or her vision was not obscured.

Jim

Note from ATU: We have sent on your query to Wheel-Trans administration and will post here any answer we receive.

“We have learned that an officer of CUPE Local 2 has been arrested and charged with theft from the Toronto Transit Commission.

“The accused is an official of another union and is not affiliated with ATU.

“We deeply regret this situation. We believe in and respect the presumption of innocence principle. ATU 113, however, has never and will never condone theft from an employer or anyone else. It is wrong in and of itself and also reflects poorly on one’s fellow workers.

“The union will be making no further comment on this matter while it is before the courts.”

Ted, Toronto

Note from ATU: Ted, please read the news reports more carefully. As you can plainly see from the report you quoted above, Mr Santos is an official of another union that represents a separate bargaining unit within the TTC. He is not affiliated with ATU 113 in any way nor has he ever been. Our union never has nor ever will condone theft from the employer or anyone else.

Rick also holds two other world records in his class, the 10K and the half-marathon. There is no faster one-legged man on the planet. Rick is also a member of Team Canada and will be competing in the 2012 Paralympics in London, England. Read the Ottawa Citizen story.

Michele, Toronto

Titled Toronto Transit workers meet with their riders, the video can be seen on YouTube and is also accessible through the union’s website, wemovetoronto.ca. It is a compilation of spontaneous comments by several people who attended the three union-sponsored meetings. All volunteered to make their comments in front of the camera and none were prompted in any way.

“Sue-Ann Levy may hate unions in general and the transit workers in particular but she misses by a mile when she insults and denigrates people who voluntarily came out on a Sunday afternoon to be part of a civic–and very civil–discussion about public transit in this city,” said Bob Kinnear.

“By calling these people “sycophants”, “unkempt”, “the usual suspects”, “shameless”, and so on, Levy tries to dismiss the validity of their remarks without having to show that what they said was in any way inaccurate or biased. She only recognized and later spoke with one person in the video. The rest are complete strangers to her but she insults them nonetheless. It’s pretty shoddy journalism but that is what we have come to expect from Levy.”

Kinnear said that he was not the narrator on the video, something implied by Levy, “but I would have been happy to narrate it. We’re proud of this video, not for its production values but for the values of the people who appear in it.”

Kinnear pointed out that the full two hours of each town hall meeting are available unedited on the union’s website.

“It is all there for the whole world to see. We’ve kept nothing back. And if you sit through all six hours you will find that more than four out of five complaints voiced inside the meetings were about matters over which front line workers have absolutely no control.

“Sue-Ann Levy won’t be satisfied until everybody in Toronto is at everybody else’s throat,” said Kinnear. “It seems to really irk her when ordinary people have a sympathetic word or two to say about public transit workers. But that was predictable.”

Rudy, Toronto

“This operator was not impaired due to alcohol or illegal drugs. He was apparently affected by doctor-prescribed medication he had been taking for several months. He had not been advised that his medication might cause impairment. There had been no prior indication of impairment from the medication. A medical investigation is underway to determine the nature and specific agents of the impairment.

“No member of the public was affected by this incident. As it involves a medical condition, we ask that the media respect his privacy pending his court appearance.”

Rudy, Toronto

Note from ATU: Rudy, you can’t believe everything you read or hear in the media. The real story is that this driver was impaired due to legally-prescribed prescription medication. He had not been advised that it might cause impairment and there had been no prior indications that his medication caused any impairment. A medical investigation is underway. The media, god bless them, just love to sensationalize everything and don’t bother to actually investigate half the stuff they write about.

Cathy Ji

Note from ATU: Cathy, you have a good suggestion about going to China to see how they do transportation there. However, every time the TTC sends someone to another country to view transportation innovation, they get hammered in the media. But we will pass your suggestion on. The union does not go with TTC Commissioners on these trips because the union makes no decisions about TTC. We just follow management’s direction.

Jenny, Toronto

A final note, I watched all 3 town hall meetings on TV. Thank you for this opportunity as I feel more informed and on par with your employees. I think it was important for riders to learn that many of the disruptions are not due to the driver, but their directions from the management. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Christine

Felix, Toronto

Note from ATU: Felix, thanks for your consideration and taking the time to let us know. We will pass your note on to management and to the driver.

The event was moderated by radio journalist Barbara Budd, who had just finished a 17-year stint two days earlier as co-host of the popular CBC Radio current events show As It Happens.

As with prior events in Downsview and Scarborough, the two-hour session was a lively exchange of questions, comments and information between a diverse audience and a panel of frontline TTC workers.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome of all three meetings,” said Bob Kinnear, president of Toronto’s transit workers’ union, ATU Local 113. “This is a great first step in our plan to reach out to the public. Our members are proud of the union and this initiative. As far as I know, no union has tried this before.

“Our number one take-away lesson is that we need to develop better ways of communicating with our customers. As a union, we’ll be working on this and other areas of TTC service over which we, as frontline workers, have some degree of control.

“This is not the end of our dialogue with the public, it’s only the beginning,” Kinnear pledged. “We’ve opened a lot of minds on both sides of the farebox with these meetings and we want to keep that momentum going.”

Kinnear said that video summaries of all three meetings will soon be posted on YouTube and the union’s website, WeMoveToronto.ca. Archived webcasts of the entire first two meetings are already online and the third will be available on Tuesday, May 4.

“Media reports of the meetings have been necessarily sketchy and have not, in our view, been able to convey how wide-ranging and constructive our dialogue has been.

“We are quite sure that people who take the time to view more of the meetings than they have read about or seen on the news will be impressed with these unique civic events.”

Heather, Toronto

Note from ATU: Heather, you are certainly very observant! Yes, there are schedules but there are many reasons why it is difficult to keep to them: traffic, construction, weather, passenger-related delays – these are the main ones. Arriving early is not common but does happen, often at the orders of transit control for one reason or another. The bus clumping you describe is just as frustrating for drivers as passengers and is the result of inadequate system management. Drivers used to have the ability to leapfrog buses ahead of them but management put an end to that for unexplained reasons. Your main problem, Heather, is that you live in an underserviced area with not nearly enough vehicles. The TTC is woefully underfunded and the McGuinty government has just taken back billions of dollars in transit expansion funds it had promised years ago. Call your MPP!

The meeting will take place at Ryerson University’s Library Lecture Theatre, Sunday, May 2, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Admission is free on a first-come, first-seated basis. The venue seats just over 300.

As with previous meetings in Downsview and Scarborough, four frontline TTC workers, along with union president Bob Kinnear, will be on stage with the Moderator to answer audience questions and concerns about TTC service.

“We’re very pleased that Barbara Budd has agreed to moderate this final meeting,” says Kinnear. “She’s well-known to so many people who are interested in public affairs and there is no doubt that she will be both interesting and even-handed in conducting this public discussion about an important public service.”

The meeting will be webcast live through the union’s website: WeMoveToronto.ca.

On Monday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m., Bob Kinnear will appear on Goldhawk Live on Rogers TV to discuss what was learned at the town hall meetings. Rogers will rebroadcast the Ryerson meeting at 8:00 p.m., following Goldhawk Live.

“A 79-year-old man was left with minor injuries after he attempted to fight off two men who robbed and beat him while riding the subway Friday night.

The victim was on the train in the area of Chester and Pape stations at 8:30 p.m. when the suspects grabbed him and took his wallet. The victim fought back before the suspects fled the scene. Police are looking for two black men, about 20 years old, 5-feet-8 and 140 pounds.”

Rudy, Toronto

Note from ATU: Rudy, This is a sad story, unfortunately not unique. The Toronto Police Service has recently committed more officers to TTC safety, something the union has been demanding for years. TTC operating staff do not have law enforcement authority and carry no weapons or self-protection. In the subway, there is only one Guard on the train, towards the end and, as noted, he or she is unarmed in any way. On surface vehicles there are now cameras, again, at the insistence of the union, making passengers and TTC workers safer.

As for the people who think anyone will do the job for less? I thought that too when I started after about a year the pay was not enough (wage scale was similar to the TTC), ttc operators make par for the course as far as wages go, but they make less if you factor in Cost of living in Toronto.

Lastly, for those who think privatization is the answer, can you please provide some example of it working? name a city? did the city have to take it over because the private company drove the buses until they died, to avoid repair costs? did service run past the rush hour times?

Peter

“Last year there was an average of one complaint for every quarter of a million riders, and of those complaints we only have one side of the story,” says Bob Kinnear, president of the 10,000-member ATU Local 113. “I suggest that this compares very favourably with other large urban transit systems in North America and, in fact, with other public services generally.

“How many complaints does the Toronto Star receive for every quarter million articles it publishes?” says Kinnear. “I’d like to see that figure.”

Kinnear said that Local 113 is making unprecedented efforts to address customer service concerns by meeting directly with TTC riders in open, unscripted town hall meetings that so far have led to very constructive dialogue.

“As a union, we have already acknowledged that we’re not all at our best all the time but that we want to improve in those areas over which we have some degree of control. As it happens, the town hall meetings we have had so far reveal that dissatisfaction with the TTC is far more due to factors over which workers have no control. Lack of adequate funding by the provincial and federal governments has caused deterioration of what was once regarded as the world’s best transit system. Most customer complaints we have heard relate to lack of adequate vehicle service from point A to point B, not the interaction with frontline staff.

“As many town hall participants have noted, unhappy customers lash out at front line workers because they are the only face of the TTC they can complain to. If there is the occasional pushback by workers who are equally frustrated, we regret that and apologize, but we as a union are working on this.

“The Star might have more credibility if it also reported on the many acts of public service above and beyond the call of duty performed by TTC frontline workers, such as the recent saving of two women from committing suicide by union members on the job. We wonder why the Star does not consider this newsworthy.”

Vincent, Scarborough

Allan, Toronto

Note from ATU: Allan, in 2001 the fare was $2.25, not $1.25. But we agree that fares are too high. The union does not set the fares.

Emilie, Toronto

K, Toronto

I use the System and sure I would like to get to my destination in a hurry but things happen what can you do. Yelling at the driver will not solve anything. It’s not he/she that is causing the Traffic Jams, faulty signals in the tunnels, etc.

With the Garbage Issue on buses, trains, etc. If YOU are the ones that bring it on these Vehicles than YOU should be the ones to take it with you. It is just laziness. These buses come into Service at 5AM and do not see the Garage until late at night. The Driver should not be picking up after ourselves.

With regards to the “System Shutdown” a few months back when that Work Crew dug above the Subway Tunnel and then compromised the Subway Tunnel. Yes they had to shut the system down in that area and yes it caused angry people. But I do not know about the rest of you but I rather not be on a Subway Train when a Company above ground digs too closely, compromises the Tunnel, have the train going through when the Tunnel caves in.

TTC needs money and yes if we WANT BETTER SERVICE than it will cost us. Use your voices and direct it at the right people. The Government. They are the ones that are failing us.

Fran, Toronto

Anonymous

1. Vehicle drivers should no longer double as fare collectors. They’ve enough on their plate just operating the vehicles safely, negotiating traffic, etc.

2. Provide fare vending machines at each major intersection bus stop (if not every stop). This would eliminate the use of cash and the opportunity for someone to use small change to short change the fare, or the incidents of a driver contending that full fare was not paid and a passenger becoming irate and potentially violent towards the operator or other passengers.

3. Deploy fare checkers on vehicles, in pairs, equipped with proper protective gear (bulletproof vests, batons, communications devices, etc…) to deal with checking for valid fare or issuing tickets for invalid fare.

The objectives of such an initiative are many, including:

1. Better security for operators. Disputing fares can lead to distractions, and violence against operators. Flustered operators are less able to focus on negotiating traffic and operating the vehicle safely. Or, they become nearly catatonic and are unable to provide service and open communication with other customers. Remove the need for operators to interact with passengers, except to inquire about routes, short turns, etc.

2. Better security for passengers. A system that frequently and randomly will have fare checkers with security garb reduces the willingness for the criminal element to engage in bad behaviour.

3. Faster loading and unloading of passengers. Rather than have passengers enter a vehicle through the front door in single file and have to show their proof of payment, they can enter at any door without having to show proof at the time of entry.

4. Better schedule management. The accumulated effect of operators having to deal with fare collection/checking makes it more difficult to stick to a schedule.

Having spent a fair amount of time travelling on systems in and around the GTA that deploy this approach (GO Transit trains, VIVA buses), the contrast in the rider experience with TTC is stark. Travel on VIVA Blue and GO is much more “civilized”, to say the least, and having a vehicle arrive on schedule is actually expected and delivered with a high degree of frequency.

To recap: safer for drivers, safer for passengers, faster, more on time. It’s hard to argue against the continuing pursuit of these objectives.

Note especially that other transit systems have found a way to do this – TTC should not feel burdened with having to reinvent the wheel, including how to make it cost-effective.

I understand that implementing a swipe card system on vehicles is in the works. I appreciate this is a forward step, but it’s not a good enough step; it still would likely require that passengers should enter from the front in view of the operator who is still going to be required to double as a collector.

Take a ride on Viva Transit and experience what is possible for the TTC.

I actually posted this to my blog back in 2008, and the merit in this suggestion is increasingly relevant.

And, let me mention this for your information – while TTC and ATU are separate organizations, to us passengers you are one. When we drop our fare in the box, we are patronizing TTC who supplies the vehicles, track, subway, stations…and the drivers and operators, together. These two organizations should be working together to proactively engage in seeking to improve conditions for all involved; drivers, passengers, and the TTC brand itself. Having physical barriers enclosing the driver’s seat area is not a solution that would have prevented this unfortunate situation since a driver can choose to open the barrier.

TorontoMyWay, Toronto

Karl, Etobicoke

Note from ATU: Karl, we don’t know where you get the idea that this Feedback Page is heavily censored. Your assertion that “only a tiny portion of sent comments are published” is not true. Clearly the union is not afraid of criticism, as the Town Hall meetings demonstrate. We simply do not post offensive language and libelous statements. You do not have to come to the meetings. You can watch them (uncensored) on Rogers TV or on our live webcast.

Is there a program in place to deal with that? Are the TTC vehicles inspected for public health safety?
Thank you.

Victoria, Toronto

“This is an issue that affects not just TTC users and staff but every taxpayer in the city,” says Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 President Bob Kinnear.”

“Every year there are hundreds of assaults against TTC frontline staff and 90 per cent of them are related to fare disputes. Our members have learned that following TTC management policy to collect the proper fare can be hazardous to their safety.”

“Moreover, if every Operator strictly followed TTC policy about fare collection, the system would grind to a halt because of the procedures that must be followed in a fare dispute.”

Kinnear says that this Sunday’s Town Hall meeting provides an ideal opportunity to get feedback from the public on how they would like to see fares enforced and what should happen when a passenger refuses to pay the proper fare.

“Under current TTC policy, in a fare dispute the Operator must stop the vehicle and call transit control, thereby inconveniencing everyone else on the bus or streetcar and, of course, all the buses and streetcars behind. Many Operators have been verbally and even physically assaulted by other passengers because they followed the rules.

“We’d like the public’s views on how these issues should be handled.”

Kinnear stressed that audience members can raise any other transit-related issues with the union panelists, in the same way that last Sunday’s town hall meeting in Downsview was conducted.

With regard to the assault charges against a bus driver on Wednesday, Kinnear said that the matter is before the courts and that the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” must prevail.

This Sunday’s Town Hall meeting will be held at Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute, 2450 Birchmount, north of Sheppard between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be moderated by Diane O’Reggio, President and CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (Canada).

Annonymous (D), Toronto

Note from ATU: Dear D: We think if you actually read the postings you would see that there are several that are highly critical of the union and Bob Kinnear. We do moderate this Feedback because there are some people who attempt to post extremely offensive remarks that we are sure even you would find unacceptable. But the union is not afraid of criticism, as you will find out if you attend one of the next Town Hall meetings.

Godfrey Webster, Scarborough

Felicia De Blasio, Toronto

Rob, Toronto

Note from ATU: Please try to come to one of the remaining Town Hall meetings and voice your concerns directly to TTC workers.

Thank You.
Annonymous, Toronto

The ridiculous thing about all of this is that I live a 5 minute drive from Finch Station and a 10 minute drive from Downsview Station. Going downtown should at most cost $6-$8 both ways.

The union and its bizarre selection of a leader (seriously, guys, you should really listen to Kinnear talk and realize just how off-putting and arrogant he is) say it’s not their fault. They don’t control prices. They don’t control routes. They don’t control this. They don’t control that.

WRONG.

It IS at least partly the union’s fault. Why? Because it’s the dinosauric centrist NDPish logic that the union represents that artificially inflates the prices and contributes to a horribly outdated mass transit system that has needed an upgrade for the past 15 years. There’s a difference between defending the rights of your workers and attempting to bully the public and management alike into accepting whatever bizarre terms and conditions you wish to impose on the public at large. When you strongarm the equally clueless TTC management into giving you whatever you want, that comes out of the public pocketbook. That makes you just as responsible as your employer, and don’t sit there and tell us otherwise. NIMBY logic doesn’t work here.

As far as photographing employees is concerned, you can’t control that, nor should you. People can take whatever pictures they want in public, as long as they’re not doing anything harmful or illegal. Photographing a worker sleeping on the job is only harmful to the reputation of the union, and the only reason you guys are bringing up the so-called bylaws of the situation is that you got caught doing something you shouldn’t have. Rather than hide behind the bylaws that you created, own up and take some responsibility.

Simply put, the TTC needs an overhaul from the ground up.
No more union.
No more management that is either afraid to stand up to or flat-out kisses the ass of the union.
Real public accountability with independent auditing.
A system that rewards workers who actually do work and gets rid of the ones that don’t.
Reloadable cards instead of outdated cash fares/tokens.
Fares based on distance (you know, like your buddies at GO and VIA managed to figure out).
Working with transit systems of the other municipalities to make it both affordable and efficient to transfer between say Toronto and Mississauga.

You guys won’t do anything about it, though.

TTC = TAKE THE CAR.

Adam, Toronto

You take a lot of nonsense, insult and injury in the course of your days with the TTC, but I do hope you know that many of us do appreciate you.

Joanne Doucette, Toronto