Author: Erika Mackenzie

Grand prize winner of the ATU 113 MS Golf Tournament, Shop Steward Syd Palmer, enjoying the Blue Jays game with friends and family over the weekend.

ATU Local 113 strongly condemns the behaviour of a passenger who verbally assaulted a transit worker onboard a TTC bus on Wednesday, September 9th. The passenger launched a harmful, racist and misogynistic verbal tirade against the transit worker who was simply doing her job. Transit workers are entitled to the same level of safety and security as all workers.

ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred spoke with the media about the importance of safe working conditions for transit workers and why this behaviour should never be tolerated.

News Coverage

Online/Print:

Toronto Star: Man charged after hate-filled tirade at TTC bus driver (thestar.com) 

Toronto Sun: A racial tirade against a black female TTC driver has man on charges | Toronto Sun

CBC: Man arrested after video shows TTC driver being yelled and sworn at | CBC News

CityNews: Verbal abuse of TTC bus driver shown in profanity-laced video (citynews.ca)

Broadcast:

Global News: Man charged in mischief investigation involving Toronto bus driver: police – Toronto | Globalnews.ca

CTV: TTC bus operator was the victim of a ‘verbally abusive’ attack, union says | CTV News

CP24: TTC bus operator was the victim of a ‘verbally abusive’ attack, union says | CTV News

I have become aware of footage documenting racist, misogynistic abuse directed at a member of ATU Local 113. Our member was just doing her job when she was verbally assaulted and threatened by a member of the public. This is profoundly unacceptable. Our members are on the frontlines and they are entitled to the same standard of safety and security as all workers.

In light of this and other recent events, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 demands that the TTC and Toronto Police Service do everything in their power and jurisdiction to ensure that criminal, racist, and misogynistic behaviour towards transit workers be met with real and substantial consequences.

Specifically, we demand that the assailant be charged criminally and permanently banned from access to the TTC. All Torontonians should feel safe and welcome on the TTC. Actions such as those depicted in the footage should forfeit an individual’s right to access to public transit. No worker, whether serving public transit or otherwise, should have to deal with this type of abuse in their place of work.

We are heartened by the response to date from Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Jamaal Myers. They have indicated their support for our member. Their support and that of co-workers and peers who have reached out to the member is much appreciated.

We are however, deeply troubled by the lack of support shown by TTC management to our member. No resources were made available to her at the scene of the incident, and she was forced to drive her own bus to a station to engage supervisory staff. This indifference and lack of support of its employees is a sad symptom of a culture at TTC that has long needed a change.

Our member has indicated to us that this was a troubling and an unfortunate incident for her. She feels that no one should be subjected to this criminal and offensive behaviour. She has requested respect of her privacy as she tries to move forward with her work as an Operator.

Today we honour workers everywhere and across all sectors. It’s something that we will be celebrating this weekend, as we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters.

Throughout Toronto’s history, the Labour Day parade has been an important commemoration of labourer’s efforts in standing up for our rights and ensuring our voices are heard. 

On behalf of ATU Local 113’s Executive Board, shop stewards, and members, we invite you to join us to continue to celebrate Labour Day and all the many achievements of the Labour Movement.

ATU Local 113 would like to extend our congratulations to Andrew Falotico on being appointed as the new Health and Safety Director for ATU International. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Andrew and we wish him all the best in his new role.

https://www.atu.org/media/blog/2023/andrew-falotico-named-new-atu-health-and-safety-director

Today is National Emancipation Day, which marks the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 coming into effect. This legislation made the purchase or ownership of slaves illegal across the British Empire.

ATU Local 113 is proud to stand with Black and Indigenous communities in Canada in the fight against racism, discrimination, and intolerance. Today we celebrate the strength and resilience of Black communities in this country.

ATU Local 113 Executive Board Member Mario Azzopardi along with PAC members Danny Naccarato and Mark Reed supported the Revivaltime Tabernacle’s Refugee Emergency Assistance Program in Dufferin today by dropping off supplies.

ATU Local 113 president Marvin Alfred spoke with the Toronto Sun yesterday about an incident in which a passenger verbally assaulted a bus driver and tried to kick down the driver’s barrier. ATU Local 113 condemns this unnecessary abuse and continues to fight for the safety and respect of all transit workers.

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/ttc-and-police-investigating-abuse-and-aggression-towards-bus-driver

ATU Local 113 has been made aware of a derailment incident earlier this evening on the Scarborough Line 3 in the Kennedy Road and Ellesmere Road area. At this time, we are aware of several passengers with minor injuries who have received treatment from emergency responders. The cause of the incident is not yet known.  As we await further reports on the incident, ATU Local 113 is hopeful that everyone impacted by the incident is safe and receiving the medical assistance they need.  

Further updates will follow as more information becomes available