Santa’s Streetcar Toy Drive on December 14

ATU Local 113 has a long history of giving back to the communities it serves. To honour that tradition and celebrate the holiday season, ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers will be participating in Santa’s Streetcar Toy Drive on December 14.

As a family friendly charity event, attendees are encouraged to donate toys to the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish, a program that has become one of the largest distributors of toys to children in need in the Greater Toronto Area. The program also provides financial assistance to hundreds of agencies, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of children across the GTA have a memorable holiday experience.

Members are encouraged to bring their family and friends to the Kingston Road Streetcar Loop to donate toys, take photos with Santa, enjoy live music and spread holiday cheer.

Find the details below, Happy Holidays and see you there!

Date: Saturday, December 14
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Kingston Road Streetcar Loop
(Kingston Rd + Queen St. East)
Details: Photos with Santa in a vintage streetcar, BBQ, face painting, live music and much more

 

CP24: TTC passengers evacuated from train after fire breaks out in subway tunnel

This week in the wake of a track-level fire at Dundas West Station, ATU Local 113 called for the TTC to prioritize safety over cost cutting and reinstate two-person crews on each train across Toronto’s subway system.

Our issues deserve to be in the media and that’s why CP24 covered our statement in their story titled TTC passengers evacuated from train after fire breaks out in subway tunnel.

Click the link above or here to read the story.

Solidarity with Ontario Secondary School Teachers

Public high schools across Ontario will close for a one-day strike on Wednesday, December 4.

Our Sisters and Brothers in the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) are escalating their fight at the bargaining table to reverse the cuts made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Teachers are taking job action to:

  • Stop massive increases to class sizes
  • Stop the mandatory e-learning plan
  • Restore supports that students need at school to thrive

Education matters to ATU Local 113 members. Our children and grandchildren will be hurt by the cuts to school budgets. Many neighbours, family and friends working in education will lose their jobs and pay if the Ford plan is not stopped.

Teachers stood with ATU Local 113 in our action against the TTC Subway upload. Now we need to show our solidarity with our best allies in defending quality, well-funded public education.

What can you do?

  • Talk to the parents and teachers in your school. Find out if there are any school-based actions you can participate in.
  • Put pressure on the Progressive Conservative government to settle by emailing or tweeting the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce. Tell him take the cuts to our schools off the table, settle a fair contract for teachers, education workers and our kids NOW!!! Call 647-560-9700; Email: lecce@pc.ola.org; Tweet: @Sflecce.
  • Sign up at the Ontario Parents for Public Education https://linktr.ee/schoolwalkins to access resources, including a “Solidarity Kit” that can be downloaded or requested by post. Be sure to let them know that you are from ATU Local 113 when you sign up.
  • Join the Ontario Parent Action Network rally at the Sheraton Hotel (123 Queen Street West, Toronto) on Tuesday December 3, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Parents will be there to support OSSTF negotiators, with pizza and a strong, unified message for Minister Lecce and Premier Doug Ford. https://www.facebook.com/events/485803785369249/
  • Join OSSTF at Queen’s Park or Premier Doug Ford’s office between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4.
  • Join the picket at the following locations and times on Wednesday, December 4.
    • 1 Civic Court Centre, Etobicoke (TDSB office) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • 140 Borough Drive, Scarborough (TDSB office) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • 5050 Yonge Street, North York (TDSB office) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • 2220 King Rd, #1, King City (Stephen Lecce’s office) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • All high schools and adult education centres in Toronto and York Region – daytime pickets
  • Honk or ring from your cars, or buses and streetcars you operate going by picket lines.
  • Wear red and/or black clothing as a symbol of solidarity.
  • Organize a team to take flyers to local public spaces and give them out.
  • Send an email to your MPP, the Minister of Education and Doug Ford decrying the cuts to education and demanding a negotiated settlement that protects publicly funded education and provides a fair settlement for its workers.
  • Share your support for teachers and education workers on your social media accounts.

Thank you for your support!

Charges Against TTC for Violating Environmental Protections Act: ATU Local 113 and CUPE Local 2 Join Forces to Improve Air Quality in TTC Subway System

Today, charges were announced against the Toronto Transit Commission (“TTC”) and Rick Leary, Chief Executive Officer in the Ontario Court of Justice. The charges allege the defendants have allowed the discharge of contaminants in Toronto’s subway system in violation of the province’s Environmental Protection Act.

The informant in the proceeding, Thomas Donnelly, is a retired TTC worker and member of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113. Donnelly initiated the private legal prosecution after experiencing adverse health effects allegedly related to exposure from contaminants, including PM 2.5, in the subway system.

Tests by Health Canada and the TTC have shown levels of PM 2.5 contamination in Toronto’s subway almost three times greater than Montreal’s and five times greater than Vancouver’s. Health Canada states “there is no recognized threshold … (i.e. that there are no ‘safe’ levels of PM 2.5) regardless of where exposure occurs i.e. indoors or outdoors, and there is evidence that adverse health effects occur at current levels of exposure.”

In July 2019, the TTC released a Final Report on Subway Air Quality, stating it continues to meet Occupational Health & Safety Act standards and that Health Canada has indicated, concerning public health, that there are no directly comparable standards for PM 2.5 levels in the subway. The expert evidence filed in the prosecution challenges many of these findings, as well as Toronto Public Health’s recent claim that the air is safe.

The lack of standards and regulations is a major concern. The prosecution will seek, amongst other things, standards for PM 2.5 in the subway system.  The prosecution will also seek more controls over contamination in the system, including allowing employees to wear masks while working, improved ventilation and better maintenance of the system.

Carlos Santos, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 issued the following statement with members about the issue:

“The safety of our members is our top priority. Since 2017, ATU Local 113 and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2 have been calling on the TTC to work with its public transit workers to make real change to subway air quality, instead of continuing to ignore growing concerns. In August 2019, we rejected the findings of the 2019 TTC Subway Air Quality Report and demanded immediate action to reduce exposure to all known pollutants.

I want to reaffirm my commitment to you and your safety. At its core, this case is about addressing the lack of standards and regulations related to air born contaminants. We hope that this legal proceeding helps to bring about the needed change that we have identified. In the interim, we will be advocating to the TTC to implement near-term measures to address the issue.”

Transit Advocates Join Together to Celebrate Progress, Recognize Important Work Ahead

Transit advocates joined together to celebrate important progress at the We Stopped the Upload Party on November 21, while recognizing the work still ahead to protect Toronto’s public transit system. The event took place at Paupers Pub in The Annex.

ATU Local 113 and other transit advocates celebrating at Paupers Pub

Thanks to the hard work of event organizers ATU Local 113, ATU Canada, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, TTCriders, Progress Toronto and NDP Transit Critic and MPP Jessica Bell, Premier Doug Ford backed away from his hostile TTC takeover. Now transit advocates are focused on protecting the operations and maintenance of future transit projects, and the maintenance of existing TTC Subway lines, from privatization. We must keep transit public!

Premier Ford and the PC Government’s disastrous subway upload scheme would have been the first step to privatizing the TTC Subway — like Metrolinx and GO train operations. Toronto’s public transit should remain owned by Torontonians and operated and maintained by the ATU Local 113 experts trusted for over 100 years.

At the party, attendees reminisced about the effectiveness of TTC workers and riders uniting with their shared concerns. The evening was cheerful, with transit advocates looking forward to continuing the fight in 2020.

ATU Local 113, ATU Canada and former federal NDP candidate Melissa Jean-Baptiste Vajda celebrating at Paupers Pub

Join the We Stopped the Upload Party

ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers stood up to Premier Doug Ford’s hostile TTC takeover and won. Now, join together with the people and organizations dedicated to protecting Toronto’s public transit system on November 21 at the We Stopped the Upload Party to celebrate all that we can accomplish when we work together – and recognize the important work still ahead of us.

Premier Ford and the PC Government’s disastrous subway upload scheme would have been the first step to privatizing the TTC Subway. Transit advocates were clear: Toronto’s pubic transit should remain owned by Torontonians, and operated and maintained by the ATU Local 113 experts trusted for over 100 years. The fight continues to protect subway maintenance workers and future transit projects in our city.

This important victory was secured through connecting directly with riders. With press conferences, cross-city Transit Days of Action, petitions, canvasses, rallies at the Ministry of Transportation and City Hall, and more, Torontonians heard firsthand the dangers of privatizing public transit. Premier Ford should fund properly fund the public transit system, rather than break it apart.

The We Stopped the Upload Party is co-hosted by the Stop the Upload Coalition, NDP Transit Critic and MPP Jessica Bell, ATU Canada, ATU Local 113, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, TTCriders, Councillor Mike Layton and Progress Toronto.

Find the details, see you there!

Date: Thursday, November 21
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Paupers Pub
539 Bloor Street West
Details: Light refreshments will be served.

 

Supporting Communities: Parkdale Peace Project’s Back to School Block Party

ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers live in the communities they serve. Their hard work continued September 1, when the Local joined together with the Parkdale Peace Project for their second annual Back to School Parkdale block party in support of children and families.

It was a day of family friendly activities, starting with a BBQ as 204 backpacks filled with supplies were given away right as the new school year began. Children were also given free haircuts and stylings.

Parkdale—High Park NDP candidate Paul Taylor was one of many community members in attendance.

The event was a huge success and brought joy to the many children and families that live in this community. Thank you to all those who helped plan this event – and to the Women’s Committee for their leadership.

Together, We Stopped Ford’s TTC Upload Scheme For Existing Lines!

ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers have always fought hard against the province’s TTC Subway upload scheme because it is bad for workers, riders and Toronto.

With today’s announcements, we cautiously welcome the news that the province is prepared to back away from its disastrous subway upload scheme for existing TTC Subway lines.

It’s because of your hard work and solidarity that this scheme is being halted. When we bring together Toronto’s transit community, we can fight for what we believe in and make change for the better.

With the province taking responsibility for future subway and LRT expansion, we call on the City of Toronto and the Ford Government to ensure all lines in the city are operated and maintained by a unified TTC workforce that has been trusted and qualified to do the work safely for over 100 years.

All Torontonians should be concerned if the province moves forward with “private-public partnerships” for building, operating and maintaining new transit lines. In the end, private companies will win while the public loses.

The Presto fare system, brought to the TTC through a “private-public-partnership through Metrolinx, is dogged by technological failures and delayed repairs – starving our transit system of much-needed cash. With the divided city-provincial workforce, highly-trained TTC workers are restricted from fixing malfunctioning Presto systems because Metrolinx, a provincial agency, insists on hiring inexperienced private contractors for the job. The result is longer delays for riders as vehicles are taken out of service waiting for private contractor repairs.

ATU Local 113 has long advocated for increased funding for our public transit system. For far too long, Torontonians have been forced to commute with dangerous overcrowding, or be stuck waiting on the curb. ATU Local 113 welcomes the expansion of Toronto’s public transit system, but it can’t put the public transit system at risk through a split workforce that will cost riders in the end.

Together We Can Protect Ontario’s Public Services

ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers joined together with York Communities for Public Education on October 5 to protect quality, well-funded public services. A group of concerned Ontarians enjoyed a BBQ tailgate near Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney’s constituency as they discussed the impacts of her PC Government’s cuts – while strategizing on how to stop them.

Under Premier Doug Ford, Ontarians have seen devastating cuts to public education, transportation and other vital services. By standing together in solidarity, a clear message was sent to the PC Government that Ontarians will do all they can to protect those services.

A special thanks to all those who attended and York Communities for Public Education for co-hosting the event. Find some photos below.