The Local 113 is elected every three years by direct vote of the membership. The entire membership votes for the top three officers: President/Business Agent, Executive Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer.

All members in Transportation vote for the Assistant Business Agent - Transportation. Transportation members in the various Divisions vote for their Board Representative.

All Members in Maintenance vote for the Assistant Business Agent - Maintenance and the At-Large Board Member. Maintenance members in the various shops vote for their respective Board Representative.

The Executive Board meets regularly to conduct the affairs of the Local. Their authority is governed by the By-laws.

Bob Kinnear
President/Business Agent

Bob was first elected President/Business Agent in 2003 and has been re-elected twice by wide margins. His aggressive but fair-minded political style and his readiness to confront the media in crisis situations has transformed Local 113 into the leading union in Toronto.

No Local 113 President before him has had wider experience at the TTC than Bob. He began working for the Commission in 1988 when he was 18 years old, beginning in the Plant Department and then in Buildings and Maintenance at the Hillcrest complex. Later he moved to Collectors Division where he worked for a number of years before moving to Lansdowne Division, which closed in 1996. After that he worked, at different times, at Danforth Bus Division, Danforth Subway Division, Birchmount Division and Wilson Subway Division.

Born and raised in Toronto’s Cabbagetown district, Bob got involved with Local 113 soon after he joined the TTC and was continuously active in lower level roles such as an elected Convention Delegate and a member of the Bylaws Committee. He decided to contest the top position because “A lot of members told me the incumbent leadership was not aggressive enough in defending them against TTC management.”

Since taking office, Bob has undertaken a complete overhaul of the union’s communications with both its members and the public. In his first term he launched the membership magazine, On the Move, and the We Move Toronto website. He was the first union leader in Canada to use broadcast phone messaging to keep members posted on contract negotiations developments and other important issues. He also directed one of the first-ever television advertising campaigns by a union designed solely to promote the value of the members’ work to the community.

Manny Sforza
Executive Vice-President

Manny is a first time Board member with a strong union consciousness. The Toronto native began his career with the TTC in 1987 as a Divisional Clerk and spent five years as a Slip Clerk. Before coming to the TTC, Manny worked as a site co-oordinator for a construction company.

"I have always been a defender of workers’ rights,” explained Manny. “I wanted to be on the Board so that I could effectively advocate for our members.” One of the Executive Vice President’s principal duties is to assist members with benefits and WSIB
issues. This is often a complex task involving reams of paperwork and endless dealing with bureaucracies. “I want to ensure that
members are treated fairly by the TTC and WSIB staff,” Manny says. “They should get everything they’re entitled to and that will always be my goal.”

Rocco Signorile
Secretary-Treasurer

Rocco was first elected to the Board in 2006 as the representative for Roncesvalles/Russell/Wheel-Trans, having served as a Shop Steward for two terms. When Veolia Transportation workers in York Region joined Local 113 in 2008, Rocco was appointed their representative as well. It was a baptism by fire as the Veolia workers staged a 15-day strike, which was ultimately settled without any concessions and several contract improvements, including wages and benefits.

Rocco began his TTC career at the age of 22 as a streetcar operator. Before that he managed a supermarket. “I joined the Board
because I wanted to help people,” explained Rocco. “In a global economy that treats unions like dinosaurs, my goal is to increase and maintain the level of strength within the union to ensure that workers don’t fall by the wayside.”

Frank Grimaldi
Assistant Business Agent - Transportation

Frank was re-elected to the Board and had two prior terms under his belt as the transportation representative for Arrow Road, Queensway and Mount Dennis. Prior to his employment with TTC as a bus operator, Frank was a truck driver for Oshawa Foods and a member of the Teamsters. Not just a member, but an activist and leader. He served as a Shop Steward of Teamsters Local 419 for 8 years. He was later the Local’s Business Agent for one year and was elected President for three years. Frank was born in Calabria, Italy and came to Canada when he was twelve years old.

“I joined the Board to try and make a difference,” said Frank. “I once heard a quote that has propelled me to want to help: ‘If
unions get weaker, the middle class disappears.’ In a deteriorating economy that certainly rings true. Concessions are being given all around and that creates pressure for more employers to demand them. It is a challenge to resist concession demands but the union must do so. We cannot walk backwards into the future.”

Scott Gordon
Assistant Business Agent - Maintenance

Scott was re-elected to the Board in 2009 having previously served three terms as a representative for Equipment ‘E’ Rail Cars and Shops. Prior to the Board, he spent 12 years as a Shop Steward. The Brampton native began his career with the TTC in 1982 as a Plant Maintenance Employee in Surface Track. Prior to working for the TTC he spent two years at Flexonics where he served as a Shop Steward and was an active participant in contract negotiations.

“After acquiring and honing my skills as a Shop Steward for 12 years, I felt that I could accomplish more for the members of Local 113 in a wider capacity,” Scott says. “I was confident that I would be able to effectively contribute to a team of representatives and improve the working conditions of all Local 113 members.” “I think the biggest issues that concern the Maintenance Department are contracting out, job security, skilled trade wages, pension updates and warranty work. The challenge is to continuously improve contract language in these areas through collective bargaining.”

Mark Bertoia
Bloor-Danforth Subway/SRT/Eglinton/Wheel-Trans

Mark is a first-time Board member who had previously been active in the union as Shop Steward from 2006-2009 and as a member of the Local 113 By-law Committee. The Hamilton native also has a certificate in Labor Studies which he feels will prove useful in his current position. Mark began his career with the TTC as a bus operator in 1981. Previously he had worked as an equipment operator for CN Rail.

“I ran for the Executive Board with passion because I hoped I might be able to serve our members better in this capacity,” he says. “I feel that one of the biggest new challenges that we face is Metrolinx and the new direction that it will take public transit. The 2011 contract is also an issue as well as stronger contract language with regard to religious accommodation.”

Bill Chrisp
Member-at-Large - Maintenance

Bill was re-elected to the Board having previously served as Plant Department representative for two terms. Prior to this he represented the members as a Shop Steward for six years. Bill began his career with the TTC in 1983 as a Track Worker. Prior to the TTC, Bill was employed with Canada Packers (now Maple Leaf Foods) where he was a UFCW Shop Steward for several years.

“I’ve always seen myself as a problem solver. I wanted to be on the Board to use those skills to serve and help our members and police the collective agreement,” says the Toronto native. “I think that two of the biggest issues facing the members in our department right now are contracting out and health and safety. Ensuring that our members are treated fairly is an ongoing concern as well.”

Pino D’Armiento
Plant Department

Pino was re-elected to the Board having previously served one term. Prior to the Board he was a Plant Department Shop Steward for two terms and a Warden for Local 113. Pino began his career with the TTC in 1987 as a custodian. Before that, he managed a supermarket.

“I have always enjoyed butting heads with management,” says the Toronto native. ”I wanted to be on the Board to help and protect the members. Contracting out is a big issue. Also, management continues to misinterpret the collective agreement as well as maintenance seniority regulations, mainly in their own favor. We have to constantly be on guard to protect our rights.”

John Di Nino
Equipment “E”

John is a first time Board member. Prior to his election he served as a Shop Steward for 15 years. He began his career with the TTC as a summer student and was hired on a full-time basis in the equipment department in 1986.

“Having served as a Shop Steward for numerous years I felt that it was important to take the knowledge and experience that I acquired and use that to better serve the Equipment Department and the local as a whole,” he says. “Keeping the membership united is an important focus right now. Respecting the brothers and sisters and working towards a common goal and being positive about the Union’s efforts will only build our strength and credibility as a local as we move forward in tough economic times and with some huge challenges ahead.”

William Fowlie
Equipment “A”

Bill was first elected to the Board in 2006 and was re-elected in 2009. Prior to that he had served as a Shop Steward since 2003. He began his career with the TTC in 1983 as a labourer in the Plant Department and shortly after ended up in the operating garages. Prior to that he worked at Premium Doors, “a true sweat shop,” and due to that experience, understands why a union is needed in order to ensure fair wages and premium benefits for all members.

A native of Scotland, Bill arrived in Canada at the age of five and has lived in an around the Toronto area for several years. “I joined the Board because I felt driven to make a difference,” says Bill. “I want to maintain and improve on the high standards that the union has set.” He sees Metrolinx as one of the biggest threats facing the union. “There is the distinct possibility that Metrolinx could be empowered to circumvent the collective agreement. We can’t let that happen so we have to be on guard to protect our hard-won rights.”

Cliff Piggott
Arrow Road/Caldari/Mount Dennis/Newmarket

Cliff is a first-time Board member who has always taken an active interest in the union. He was a Shop Steward from 2004-09 and a member of the Health and Safety Committee from 2001-04. He began his career with the TTC as an Operator in 1980.

Born in London, England and raised in Canada, Cliff says he wanted to be on the Board because “I believed that I could make an impact and be part of a better future for the union and its members. “Being a driver for so many years, I’ve seen some inadequacies in the system.” He feels, for example, that more has to be done in training the new operators. “Getting them acclimatized to the nature and duties of the job is a big challenge. The company can and should do better and the union can help.”

Paul Haynes
Queensway/Roncesvalles/Russell

Paul is a first time Board member, having previously served the union as a Shop Steward for three years. Paul began his career with the TTC as a bus, subway and SRT Operator. Prior to coming to work for the TTC, Paul was an auditor for a computer company.

“I wanted to be on the Board to address the needs of the members and I believe that my work experience would be an asset in this capacity. My main concern is ensuring fairness and that workers are treated by management with the dignity and respect that they deserve, that every worker deserves. Paul hails from Aruba and has lived and worked in Canada for over thirty years.

Bill Merlin
Hillcrest Complex

Bill was re-elected to the Board in 2009 after his first term. Prior to that he served as a Shop Steward in Duncan Shop. The Nova Scotia native began his career with the TTC in 1982 as a truck coach technician. Prior to the TTC, Bill worked in the transportation industry as a truck coach mechanic.

“I joined the Board in order to make a difference and support our membership,” he says. “There are many, many issues in the Maintenance Department and what may seem like a small issue to some is a very large issue to the members it affects. Everyone is entitled to the union’s representation and best efforts. Although he aggressively addresses every issue raised by his members, Bill feels the overall biggest issue facing Maintenance is contracting out. Pensions are also a huge issue for everyone in the union, he believes.

Carmen Lint
Birchmount/Malvern

Carmen is a first-time Board member and the first female ever to serve in that capacity in the 110-year history of the union. She had been a Shop Steward at Birchmount for four years and studied Labour Relations on her own initiative, something she says helped her become a more effective Steward and will give her a wider perspective as a Board member.

The Toronto native began her career with the TTC in 1986 as an operating garage person. Prior to joining the TTC she was a student and briefly, a waitress. “I want to represent the local in a professional and honest way. I feel our major challenges will be the 2011 contract and an increasingly demanding public. I would also like to address the amount of stress that our members suffer on the job.”

John Wales
Collectors/Clerical/TCT/Patten/Traffic Checkers/Wheel-Trans Administration

John is a first-time Board member, having served as a Shop Steward from 2003-09. The native Londoner began his career with the TTC in 1986 as an Operator. Prior to the TTC he worked as a print supervisor and ink technician.

Like his fellow Board members, John ran for the Board “because I want to improve the system. I feel that communication is the biggest challenge our members face. There is so much our members need to know to do their jobs well, protect their health and safety and preserve their job security. “Providing the right information to our members will greatly improve our strength as a union.”

Ian Mackay
Wilson Bus/Wilson Subway

Ian was re-elected to the Board having previously served from 2006-2009. He was a member of the Health and Safety Committee and a Shop Steward for three years. Ian began his career with the TTC as a bus and trolley operator. Prior to the TTC, the Scotsman worked as a foreman in as assembly plant.

“Having been raised in a strong pro-union environment, I am a strong believer in the power of the union and its assistance to the working man,” he says. “My main goals as a Board member this term are to ensure that both management and workers adhere to the collective agreement. We are moving forward, and in the face of challenges such as Metrolinx and Transit City, we need to ensure that our members are being treated respectfully so that we can maintain a strong presence in the eyes of management.”