Public Feedback

We take your comments seriously. Communication between our members and the public is crucial to the healthy growth and operation of  the TTC. If you would like to leave a comment click here.

I am wondering what the ATU’s position is on this given on the page here to the left there is a story regarding Career College students being excluded from the discounted Metropass

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.

Finally the TTC has come out with a pass that is reasonable in terms of price for students this $99 monthly pass that we can use instead of paying either the 121 regular price, 111 for the MDP or the 107 being offered at certain institutions.

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.

I have serious issues with the response times by TTC officials. 6 30 pm today august 19th I am moving towards the Don Mills station exit into Fairview Mall. I see a gentleman in a wheelchair hitting the button to get the door to open it doesnt. I hit the passanger assistance button to call the collector or collectors. For more than 10 min no one answers now this is a little ridiculous do you not think ATU that for 10 + minutes there was no response.

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.

Seems like the same old feedbacks – Local 113 only prints those letters that are not showing real events. Sneaky and counter productive. The Union is always hiding something.

Rudy, Toronto

These riders think our job is easy, they should sit in our seat for a day and then come talk to us, they only want what they want when they want it, with no regard for others its only about them, there are to many selfish people running around in the city, they bitch and complain about everything , hey this is not a perfect world, and you are dealing with individuals who I might add are only human they might be having a bad day just as you might be. but they are still out there trying to give you service. you should be a little more patient and understanding the system works its not all bad and its only when faced with a crisis they truly see how valuable we are.

The Candy Man, Scarborough

I stood at Eglinton Station on Sunday May 30th waiting for the 12:10pm trip out. It comes in on time and I sit in the bus and wait as the drivers make the switch.

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.

Yesterday, after a long day at school my 12 year old daughter and her older sister got on the Lawrence Ave E bus at the Donway.  As she boarded, my daughter went to pull the ticket out of her bag but for some reason couldn’t find it.  Rather than delay the passengers and single out my daughter the driver said, “hop on and you can look for it from your seat”.  This in itself was an amazing gesture of trust and respect and recognition that no one needs to be singled out as holding up the bus.  As my daughter scrounged though her bag she found everything but her bus ticket.  Embarrassed, she went back to the driver and said she couldn’t find her ticked, but did offer one of her older sister’s student tickets in place of her childrens ticket.  The driver would have none of that!  He said to her that he trusts her and that when she eventually finds the ticket she can put it in, but did not have to use up her sister’s ticket at this time.  A simple gesture?  I think not!!  Think about what this driver did… he told a 12 year old that he trusts her, he didn’t single her out in front of other passengers, he smiled and understood that in mid June towards the end of the school year children have much more on their minds than finding tickets. All I can say is that we need to remember the simple kind gestures that TTC employees make ever day and don’t make the headlines.  This driver should be commended, congratulated and probably cloned, because he was an ambassador of the TTC on the day and as a parent who’s children take the bus home from school its nice to know that someone “has their back on the way home”

Jim

I am not leaving my name with the fear that I may not get a ride. I would like to know why is that wheel trans only goes past Steeles for a select few. I was on the bus the other day and we went all the way up to Centre Street to a customers condo.(Vaughan) I on the other hand was told a few weeks ago that I could not go to a wedding that was just north of Steeles on Jane. I had to be dropped at a transfer point. When I saw this I was furious. I would have even paid an extra fare. Why can’t we pay the extra fare and go above Steeles. Maybe not to houses but at least to Vaughan Mills and Canada Wonderland. This may not be a union issue, here is your chance to do something for the small guy. 

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

Crook Union members – Bob, what is happening with your people? Not enough salary? “Mike Santos, president of CUPE Local 2, which represents about 500 TTC electrical workers, has been charged with theft over $5,000 and the possession of stolen property. He was arrested Wednesday at his Vaughan residence following the execution of a search warrant by York Region Police, working with TTC special constables.

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.

I heard Bob Kinnear on Newstalk 1010 (Richards Show) talking about the YouTube video on this site about the town hall meetings and Sue-Ann Levy’s criticism of it. I agree with Kinnear that Levy went overboard. I was at the same town hall meeting as Levy and yes, it’s true that there were a few complaints directly about TTC workers. But most of the complaints were about things the workers had no control over. I also watched the Scarborough town hall on Rogers and it was the same thing. People are upset about things that money would help solve. The TTC is being very shortchanged by the provincial government, compared to other big city transit systems. Even if we had smiling robots driving the buses, that still wouldn’t get me to work any faster. Sue-Ann Levy hates unions, that’s well known. But she had no right to attack people who came out to the meetings and wanted to just give their comments.

Michele, Toronto

C’mon guys – that is BS! My doctor . especially a family doctor has a record of what medications the patient takes. Or he/she will ask .The pharmacy MUST give out warning in printing or when the pharmacists hands out a NEW medication to a customer, explains what the side effects are. Unless this driver went to a 3rd world country for prescription, your explanation is weak, and false. He was drunk, admit it!

Rudy, Toronto

“A TTC bus driver was charged with impaired driving Wednesday night, 32 division police officers have confirmed.This arrest comes as the TTC faces a slew of public criticism after a much-maligned fare hike, public photos of an employee sleeping on the job, and the suspension of another after failing a breathalyzer.” As a rider I do NOt think the 3 public Town Hall meetings has resulted one bit of improvement. Most of the 10,000 Union brothers have never heard of or do NOT care about the whole issue. We are anxiously waiting for the new Mayor to make drastic changes.

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.

TTC has had a big contribution to Torontonians, tourists and environment. the most first-line workers are working with great diligence. But TTC’s management system and technical competence are much behind. Also, there is no competition to impel TTC to improve the service.
In my opinion:
1. TTC should send someone to China and have a look to see how China handle the transportation with a vast population. TTC should have a technological innovation and improve the management system.
2. Two transportation system will serve Torontonians better than only one. TTC may be separated to two – one is “trains system” and one is “buses and street cars system”. In this way, it can encourage both to have better service to win passengers and government funding; also to avoid the transportation system paralysed by TTC strike. We are looking forward to see a completely new transportation system in Toronto!

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.

I have nothing but praise for our bus drivers. I’ve only had two bad attitude drivers throughout my years of ride the ttc. The only major stress I have is riding with my fellow passengers. They are bullies, litter bugs, pigs, smelly, loud, slobs, hog up two seats, bunching up all at the front end of the bus, door blockers, and very rude in not giving up their seats for elderlys. We need TTC constables to control bad attitude passengers. Here are a few things I’ve observed as a rider: people sneaking in without paying at Pape and Don Mills Stations. A man clearing his throat then spit his mucus on the train floor. East Indian teenage boys verbally abusing then spit on our bus driver’s face on the Don Mills 25 bus. Bullies intimidating by budding into our bus line. Blocking exit doors that it’s difficult to get off. We need to discipline passengers not TTC staff!

Jenny, Toronto

Since unscheduled driver breaks have been a hot issue lately, I would like to share a thought, but first an observation. I witnessed a few weeks ago, a driver on the Royal York route get off the bus which was about half full of passengers, stand in front of it and smoke a cigarette. This did not appear to be a wise time and place to do so. As a front line staff working with the public I truly understand the importance of breaks. However, I would assume that every subway station has washroom facilities for the employees. Would it not be reasonable to expect that breaks take place at the station where there could also be a pot of coffee available to ensure our drivers are also alert. I suggest this not only to avoid delaying the passengers, but also for the safety of your operators.

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

There was a bus driver on the route 51 Leslie that I take on a regular basis. One day as he approached Don Mills on Steeles, he stopped and a woman got on assuming it was a 53 Steeles bus she was not paying attention as she had her paper buried in her face. The driver correctly assumed that she wanted the 53 and in somewhat of a loud voice told her to please step off, I need to keep going. 3 days later he was written up for this non incident. Can the management reverse the decision on this it is ludicrous the driver was written up for it.

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 biggest complaint I have is with the bus. I have had drivers who see you running for the bus then wait till you get to the door and drive off. They do see you because they have waved and laughed as they drove off. This is rare but it does happen. As for specific bus routes, The O’Connor 70 is suppose to be at St.Clair and Selwyn at 1:09pm on Sundays. I have to take that bus to work. I have seen it drive by at 1:00pm 10 min early! The bus after that is on time so now I am late for work. Then the next week it is on time.
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You have a fantastic security system – where was the TTC staff during the attack?

“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.

To start with I’m originally from Toronto, but I’ve since moved to a different part of the Country. I have experience in the transit industry, and the news stories about the drivers taking a washroom break, and the outrage from the media and the public does not bode well with public perspective across the country. Transit operators across the country use the washrooms while on duty. Yet only people from Toronto think it’s their right to harass someone in their workplace.
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I heard from the news saying that the cost is too high to extend better services in some areas. Well, one of the reason the cost is too high because the workers payroll is too high. Most drivers or fare collectors do not require very high educational level or special skill. Why should they make so much money?? If you do a survey, I’m sure many people in the city are willing to replace them on a much lower payroll. Thanks!

Vincent, Scarborough

TTC service is bad, drivers are rude. e.g. they don’t count how much coins i put in, or very rude or totally ignored customer question. very normal they chat or playing in ticket booth in subway,,,etc. How do you feel we switch positions. tax money really wasted, i don’t take TTC, because they “refuse” me to take TTC, 9 years ago TTC fare was 1.25 look now! service going down, price going up. i suggest TTC staff undercover and take TTC try couple of days.

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.

When I wait at the Markham/Ellesmere intersection for the 38 or the 133 bus to Scarborough Town Centre, often the 95 or 95 e is stopped at the corner.  Then, when a 38 or 133 bus approachs, they do NOT stop for waiting passengers.  This happens to me at least 2/5 weekdays.  Then, we have to wait for the next set of buses which are inevitabley packed full of people.  Why don’t the 133 and 38 driver stop for us?  It would even out the passenger load and make us less frustrated.

Emilie, Toronto

I hardly use TTc because of the bad service. I have no good words for the TTC at all.  I drive into the city every day. I firmly beleive that the TTC employees/drivers and the Management are just interested in their own salary and huge benefits (which the average person in Toronto does not get). Let me give you an example. Often I see the TTC street car blocking the traffic on Coxwell Ave. for no reason. The driver just sits there in the middle of the road with the hazzard lights blinking. (This is south of Gerrald St) This is not a regular stop. Ths roads are narrow and blocks/stops the traffic in the busy morning rush hour.

K, Toronto

I find the Complaints directed at TTC a tad annoying. Sure there are a few bad eggs in the basket but “maybe” we’ll see a change with all these Town Hall Meetings and an improvement in the Customer Service. It’s the only System we have. It’s aging. And Toronto is growing faster than the TTC can keep up.

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.
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These town hall meetings are a farce and are not sincere in nature. They are only in place to try to get the public on your side before the next strike or wildcat strike. Bob has suddenly done an about face, having previously demonstrated an attitude of entitlement, defensiveness and defiance, just like several employees in booths, buses and trains I have come across, and even a TTC supervisor in a booth.
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In the wake of the recent driver/passenger altercation, I’m finally submitting to you this suggestion – adopt the honour system.

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.
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This Feedback Page is a scam, censored heavily by – possibly – Bob Kinnear. Only a tiny portion of sent comments are being published. Just as well, there are no real answers from ATU, except – come to our meeting.Some people can not go, some people do not want go go.  Again, just as on the work front, you Union guys are scamming us, riders!

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.

I would like to draw your attention to the cleanliness or rather lack of cleanliness in public transit vehicles. TTC bus and streetcar seats are dirty and smelly, potentially hosting harmful microorganisms.

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

Victoria, Toronto

Now, I see only positive comments defending the status quo are being posted.  I thought all comments we going to be posted and were open for discussion – that was a silly mistake on my part – what would I expect from a Union site.  I should not have wasted my time writing comments that will be ignored.

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.

Dear Sir Thank you for the ability to hear our problems which sometimes are in step with your frustrations,I watched the broadcast on Sunday 11th on Rogers.1)Please have a table for the panelists their body language is not showing that they really care about our frustrations just check the tape on their posture.2)For the time problem technology can work but in the interim TTC should know how long a given leg/stop should take so if a driver is late for what ever reason can he/she not sent a message to the CIS to make adjustments to the other buses to make adjustments? read more »

This morning at approximatley 9:00 am at University Avenue, St. Patrick’s subway station, I was stopped by the ticket collector. I had a day pass which was scratched this morning. I accidentally scratched the date for April 11 instead of April 12. I explained this to a TTC driver and he was understanding. My pass was confiscated at the subway station. I was told it would be sent to customer service. I was not given a chance to explain nor was any personal information of mine collected. Honest mistakes do happen occassionaly. I have to make more than one trip on the TTC today. A very expensive day! The TTC should implement a scanning and barcode system to verify day passes in question

Felicia De Blasio, Toronto

Bob you are con man. The fat , unionized TTC employees are bleeding Toronto’s budget.
They should all take a pay cut. 90% of the riders are poor, they can hardly afford the Metropass. Especially seniors treated badly on TTC vehicles.
We pay for the Unions’ privileged life, super pension, while the economy is struggling and folks have no jobs.
Why are NOT we qualified for incomes as you rude bastards?

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.

I heard all the questions and answers on today’s townhall meeting – it was a good first step for customers to vent their frustration. The one point that did not come out more clearly was the question of Wheel Trans. I have a big problem with this service. I am living in an area where most of the people are of the same community and they tend to go to their church or mosque on an every day basis. Most of the time and specially on Fridays I see a line up of Wheel trans including a number of taxis specially allocated as wheel trans vehicles. read more »

Comments: I’m not a regular TTC rider. I basically ride it if and when I have to. I would LIKE to ride it more often, but it is simply not feasible for me to do so. Why? Because at $3.00 per one-way trip minimum plus parking and/or transfers, it usually works out to around $12.00 for a round trip…unless, of course, I do it on the weekend in which case I can get the wonderful $10.00 day pass. read more »

This morning a TTC streetcar driver slowed down so that I could make it to the stop on time despite my cane and obvious mobility problems. This is not unusual. It is the small kindness of the men and women of your local that keep me using the overcrowded aging fleet. When I transfer to the Yonge Street bus at College I encounter the same courtesy and humanity. I have complaints about the TTC — long waits, crowded cars, short-turns, etc., etc., but not about the men and women who work for the TTC. One final comment deserves mention. Years ago my frail younger sister (now deceased) got off the Queen Street car and out of nowhere a stranger pushed her down and started kicking her — with construction boots no less. The streetcar driver sprang out of the car and used his body to shield her while he carried her into the car. He called the police, but we don’t know his name now. His courage will not be forgotten in my family. My sister was saved from certain serious injury and maybe worse.

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

I find it really frustrating when I’m on the 506 CARLTON To MAIN STREET STN streetcar and I get turfed off at Coxwell. This happens way too often.

I try to time my day so that I can pick my kids up by a certain time and I sometimes have to take a cab to get to the school. I wish the TTC would stop doing this. It’s maddening. At least adopt a policy where routes aren’t changed when it is raining or really cold.

DM, Toronto

Seniors have difficulty accessing subway service because of the TTC’s paper tickets. Yesterday I had to wait in the line for ten minutes just to deposit my ticket at the booth where others purchase tokens and tickets, even though I had a stack of tickets. Senior tickets need to be replaced with tokens, likely of a different colour, so the automatic turnstyles can be used, avoiding line-ups.

Rod Duncan, Toronto

Sun. April 5 I arrived at Finch Subway Stn. Long line up as only 1 Ticket Booth open. However, there was a TTC employee allowing people who wanted a day pass through a gate and they were advised to purchase their ticket at their exit stop. Can’t believe that everyone who went through gate were going to purchase a ‘Day Pass’. Return trip I arrived at the College/University subway around 3:15- 3:30 was ready to show my transfer – no one in the both!

Leo, Richmond Hill

“I have had enough of the open season on the TTC employees. I know you employ thousands of people and not everyone is going to be a shining star. So deal with those who need a little nudge! I rarely venture into Toronto and do not use the TTC, sorry. Below is a little message I sent to the good folks at Metro Morning on the CBC. read more »

“In all the current BS about TTC front line personnel, may I say that in 25 years of riding the TTC, I could count on the fingers of my hands the number of times that one of your members acted inappropriately. By and large, they are absolutely one of the most professional and respectable group of individuals I have ever run into. read more »

“Now that the sleeping operator story has gone and dealt with, I still back your operators, as I have ridden the TTC all my life as I can’t drive. I have found in most cases it was the customer that instigated the problem ie: fares,transfers,walking into paid areas only. One more thing. If the chairman of the TTC can get allegedly get ” laid” in his own office on regular or after hrs, it sure makes your sleeper guy look like a true gentleman. Anyway I hope things simmer down now as Bob is reaching out to customers and operators with town hall meetings as announced today. Thanks.

Ross Wright, Scarborough

“I live in Thornhill, but I travel to school back and forth, as well as other places. In general, I am satisfied overall by the service that I receive from the TTC. I have not experienced anything besides appropriate service. However, I have an issue with the comments made by Greg Kinnear. It is everybody’s right to take washroom breaks, that’s a matter of fact. It is not a right to be abused by the employees, because I have seen it myself, the frequency of stops, even the fact that regular stops are made to the SAME locations – whether it be Tim Hortons or Coffee Time, or Country Style. I think its unfair that the Union Chief comes out with such harsh words, implying anyone pulling out a cameraphone is harrassing the members of the TTC”

Jerome Joseph, Thornhill

Hi…this is kind of directed to Bob Kinnear; As a past inside employee of the TTC who was let go way back in 1995 as a result of cut-backs, but also a daughter of a retired employee, I have a question…is there not a by-law on each and every transit vehicle and station which clearly states that passengers are NOT allowed to photograph the bus/streetcar/subway, the stations and the operators, WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE TTC itself? I was always under the impression that the public cannot just enter a subway station or board a vehicle and start taking pictures–and didn’t also include any TTC properties? read more »

“I understand that union are suppose to look out for there workers. But this is getting out of hand. Yes Transit workers are harrased but 1 wrong doesn’t make a right. You are providing a service that runs on the publics money. Do you have any consideration for that?”

Josh, Toronto

“I have never sent a letter to a Union before. I am 65 years old and have lived in Toronto all my life. I think Mr Kinnear’s public statements are self serving and not constructive. You don’t seem to understand that if your front line guys and gals don’t put in a good effort, in spite of stupid Customers and Riders, then you’ll never enjoy the support of the public. Toronto used to have a good transit system – your union has participated in its decline. This latest issue doesn’t help anyone – least of all Union members. Sure it’s easy to fight , but does it help anyone? Get rid of the them vs us attitude and maybe, just maybe, guys like me will keep riding the TTC instead of my car.”

M. Forest, Toronto

Thank You! As an ATU member in Niagara Falls, Ontario, I would like to encourage all of your local’s members to stand fast and be constant in your efforts to deal effectively with the current issues in your area. Know that you have my respect and encouragement, and that I agree with the statement that your President made the other day and applaud your stand.

Deborah A. Heaslip, Niagara Falls

“I ride the TTC everyday and I own a car. The problem is not the TTC, the problem is this God forsaken city! Everybody is pointing fingers at everybody else, we are like rats crawling over each other to make it to work on time, pick up our kids without incurring additional charges from daycares. No wonder politeness and consideration for you fellow rider is non existent. read more »

I do not take transit regularly but I have in the past. I trust that most members of the public know that the vast majority of your members are hard-working people. It is clearly disrespectful to treat “driver-spotting” as a new sport, and post photos and videos of them online. No one would want to be stalked like that. Keep the faith.

Jane Wall, Toronto

“Right on Mr. Kinnear! It is about time the union spoke up about workers rights! What is this world coming too, when you cannot even answer a nature call. I resided in Toronto as a child/young adult and the drivers have always had this privilege as well as grabbing a coffee and now it has become something that needs to be negotiated!! Give me a break! You are doing a great job representing your membership. More unions should speak up to the public and clear the air!!!”

Gail Muirhead, Little Britain Ontario

“If your members are asleep at the wheel at a booth , how do we trust them not to be asleep at the wheel at a train or bus? After seeing your members at the meeting today trashing the sun reporter I was disgustedat your members. Get them under control.”

Byron Harris, Toronto

“In light of the recent criticism regarding TTC employees taking breaks on the job I want to say that we all require breaks during our working day be it to use the washroom or just rest our eyes for a few moments to regroup. We all take coffee breaks and bring it back to our work stations to enjoy as we work. read more »

“The recent attempts by riders to discredit TTC employees is DISGUSTING. I am a regular TTC rider and in my opinion, there is no better transit system than the Rocket. This is due in very large part to the people who work for the TTC. I am not a TTC employee. I am a retired Toronto police officer and have dealt with TTC employees as a cop, as a civilian and as a rider of the red rocket and in my opinion, they are ALL a great bunch of hard working people. It’s time Toronto supported their transit workers. Try living without them!”

Michael Cowan, Mississauga

“Dear Bob, I understand your need to blindly support the members of your union, but to chastise the public for not making sure that the collector was safe is ludicrous. Someday soon, you will find yourself out of a job and the ATU113 will be completely powerless and as a ttc rider and citizen of Toronto, I can’t wait. read more »