Author: nanderson

Vote Now to Make TTC LEGO a Reality

by nanderson

When ATU Local 113 member Aaron Chapman, a lifelong LEGO fanatic, became a TTC Subway Line 1 train operator, he immediately noticed something was missing from his extensive collection: the TTC. Soon after, he built a LEGO replica of a subway train and embarked to take his idea to the masses though consideration by LEGO Ideas–a program that gives homemade creations global distribution.

Aaron needs over 10,000 signatures for LEGO Ideas to consider global distribution of the “Toronto Rocket Subway Train” model. ATU Local 113 members can help make this replica a reality by voting online here:

www.TOtrain.ca

Aaron’s “Toronto Rocket Subway Train” (see below) aims to bring about more understanding of public transportation by providing new perspectives of the system. From recognizable designs, like blue accessible seating, to small hidden details, like the controls in the driver’s cab, the “Toronto Rocket Subway Train” allows passengers to see all the intricacies that make transit work.

Highlights of the model include:

  • 2 TTC operators, 2 TTC track workers and 4 passengers;
  • Roofs and Control cabs are removable and complete with detailed operating controls;
  • Train Signal tree with rotating trip arm, train mounted trip switch and functional 3rd rail;
  • And sliding passenger doors, overhead handles and subway advertisements.

Once you’ve voted, share it with your friends, family, neighbours and fellow transit advocates to sign too and make TTC LEGO a reality to bring more understanding of the public transit system.

 

Read: TTC blocked from contracting out transit operations as arbitrator ends contract dispute

by nanderson

Read the Toronto Star’s Transportation reporter Ben Spurr’s article TTC blocked from contracting out transit operations as arbitrator ends contract dispute.

A provincial arbitrator has awarded the TTC’s largest union a new three-year contract in a decision that blocked the transit agency from stripping job-security protections from the collective agreement.

On several key issues, arbitrator William Kaplan’s Oct. 23 decision sided with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents about 11,000 TTC transit operators, fare collectors and maintenance workers. The award ends a seven-month stalemate between the two sides — the previous collective agreement expired March 31.

“Toronto’s hardworking public transit workers are pleased with the new collective agreement, which recognizes our vital role in the communities we serve through fair wages and benefits,” said Local 113 president Frank Grimaldi in a statement.

The TTC had sought to remove language from the agreement that prohibited contracting out transit service. It also wanted to secure permission to introduce a part-time workforce, and to eliminate a requirement that it pay a 25 per cent per hour premium to employees who work on Sundays.

TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said the agency has no plans for a large-scale contracting out of transit service. But it had been contemplating enlisting York Region Transit to operate the Dufferin North bus route, and using non-TTC drivers as part of a “micro-transit” pilot project that would engage private for-hire vehicles to supplement regular transit service.

“It’s language that we felt doesn’t give us as management the flexibility to do things we might want to do in the future,” he said of the contracting out prohibition.

Ross called Sunday premium pay an “antiquated concept,” and argued introducing part-time work would “improve scheduling efficiency” and increase the pool of employees available to the TTC during peak service periods and special events.

Kaplan dismissed those proposals however, writing in his decision that there was no demonstrated need for such a “drastic change” to the terms of the collective agreement.

The arbitration award will give Local 113 members an across-the-board wage increase of 6 per cent over three years, which is more than the 5 per cent increase over four years that unions representing City of Toronto inside and outside workers won in 2016.

According to Ross, the TTC is still calculating how much the award will cost the agency.

In 2011, at the request of city council, the provincial government declared the TTC an essential service, effectively stripping the union of the right to strike.

The dispute over a new contract ended up in interest arbitration this month after the union and TTC failed to reach an agreement through collective bargaining and mediation.

While Grimaldi said the union was happy with the award, he asserted that arbitration “is no substitute for the fundamental Charter right to free collective bargaining which has been denied to ATU Local 113 through the removal of the right to strike by previous governments.”

Local 113 has been campaigning against the Ontario PC government’s plan to take ownership of the subway system, warning that it believes Premier Doug Ford aims to privatize transit service. The government has denied those claims, and says the TTC would continue to operate the lines.

Grimaldi said the union expects the provisions of the award will prevent contracting out services “irrespective of whether the subway is sold or otherwise transferred to another entity, including the province.”

It’s Time to Stand-Up and Defend our Public Transit System

by nanderson

Toronto’s public transit workers congratulate all those who were elected to city council. With Mayor John Tory’s re-election, ATU Local 113 renews its call for the mayor and all city councillors to stand-up and defend our public transit system. With the threat of Queen’s Park uploading the TTC Subway from Torontonians, our city needs a strong council that will fight to keep public transit in Toronto’s hands. The 11,000 transit workers who move Toronto expect city council to continue its support for a public transit system while improving and expanding service for riders.

Join the Movement! Become an ATU Canada National Organizer

by nanderson

ATU Canada, the strong national voice for the Amalgamated Transit Union in Canada, is hiring a National Organizer focused on all issues of Canadian interest including legislation, political, educational, health and safety, cultural and social welfare matters.

Details:

  • Job Title: National Organizer
  • Location: based in Etobicoke, Ontario
  • Full time/part time: 1 year contract full time
  • Compensation: ATU Canada offers a competitive benefits and salary package, commensurate with experience
  • Position summary: ATU Organizers are responsible for carrying out the National objectives as set out by the Executive Board and reporting directly to the National President. As such, they are responsible for articulating the Union’s message to workers and for carrying out internal and external organizing programs across the county. The successful candidate should be willing to move to the GTHA area and travel and work anywhere within Canada as required.

Find out more about the position and the application details below. The application deadline is October 26th, 2018 at 11:59 PM.

One voice. One Canada. One ATU.

Support Candidates Who Pledge to Keep Transit Public and Oppose TTC Subway Upload

by nanderson

With municipal election voting underway, Torontonians who care about our city must support and elect candidates who will keep transit public and oppose Premier Doug Ford’s disastrous plan to upload the TTC Subway to the province.

These candidates, endorsed by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, will fight for Torontonians and stand up to Premier Ford and his Progressive Conservative government.

Today’s endorsements follow the Toronto and York Region Labour Council’s exhaustive interviews and examination of candidates’ voting records.

“City Hall is Toronto’s strongest advocate and the new mayor and council must send a clear message to Doug Ford: the TTC’s Subway belongs to Toronto,” said Frank Grimaldi, President of ATU Local 113. “Our public transit system must be properly funded, not broken apart, and any efforts to upload the TTC Subway will lead to reduced service, higher fares and more delays on much needed transit expansion for Toronto riders.”

With so much at stake, ATU Local 113 calls on all Torontonians who care about our public transit system  to vote on October 22, or in the advance polls from October 10 to 14. More details on where to vote here.

Torontonians are also encouraged to volunteer with candidates who will help build a better public transit system for all Torontonians.

The full list of endorsed city council candidates are below. See them on a map alongside Toronto and York Region Labour Council endorsed School Board candidates.

For ATU members, find the campaign contact details and your ATU ward captain here.

Ward 3 (Etobicoke Lakeshore): Amber Morley

Ward 4 (Parkdale-High Park): Gord Perks

Ward 5 (York South Weston): Lekan Olawoye

Ward 6 (York Centre): Maria Augimeri

Ward 7 (Humber River Black Creek): Anthony Perruzza

Ward 9 (Davenport): Ana Bailao

Ward 10 (Spadina-Fort York): Joe Cressy

Ward 11 (University Rosedale): Michael Layton

Ward 12 (St. Paul’s): Joe Mihevc

Ward 13 (Toronto Centre): Kristyn Wong-Tam

Ward 14 (Toronto Danforth): Paula Fletcher

Ward 17 (Don Valley North): Shelley Carroll

Ward 18 (Willowdale): Saman Tabasinejad

Ward 19 (Beaches East York): Matthew Kellway

Ward 20 (Scarborough Southwest): Suman Roy*

Ward 23 (Scarborough North): Felicia Samuel

Ward 25 (Scarborough Rouge Park): Neethan Shan

*Suman Roy, though not officially endorsed, was instrumental in organizing food service workers at U of T into CUPE Local 3261. No Labour Council endorsed candidates are running in Ward 20.

Three Reminders of how Taking Over the TTC’s Subway is No Easy Task

by nanderson

Metrolinx’s CEO Phil Verster went on the record last week with his claim that uploading the TTC’s subway to the province would be “quite straightforward.” He even likened the takeover of the cornerstone of Toronto’s public transit system to the troubled Eglinton Crosstown LRT scheme.

Torontonians know all too well that when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is the blueprint for future subway lines, we should all be concerned.

Here are three lessons Torontonians have learned when Metrolinx is at the helm of transit projects in our city:

  1. Delays and Lawsuits: the private multinational consortium in charge of building the Eglinton Crosstown LRT recently took Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario to court to delay the project’s timeline due to “challenges they encountered.” Crosslinx Transit Solutions, the private consortium, was supposed to finish the project in 2020, but it is now scheduled to be operational in 2021. Given its troubled history, could we see more delays? The three parties recently settled for an unknown amount by raiding the government’s contingency fund – leaving taxpayers in the dark about what they agreed to and how much money they doled out.
  2. Loss of Control to Private Companies: Metrolinx awarded the Eglinton Crosstown LRT contract to the private consortium, Crosslinx Transit Solutions, which then flipped the contract for maintenance work to Bombardier. With this complicated arrangement, Metrolinx has virtually lost control to two private companies who care foremost about profits. And by having Bombardier responsible for maintenance, Metrolinx has stuck Toronto with a company that cannot even deliver our new streetcars on time.
  3. Lack of Experience: Metrolinx is a tiny operation compared to the TTC. Looking at the GO network, Metrolinx doesn’t even drive or maintain its own trains – they rely on private companies for this work, including Bombardier. Yes, the same company that both Metrolinx and the TTC have faced in court! The TTC Subway is a complex network that tens of thousands of passengers rely on each day. It demands careful attention from experienced TTC operators and maintenance workers to keep Toronto moving. As the system undergoes major expansions – why take control of it from those who know it best?

Torontonians built, own and paid for our subway. The proposed upload is a first step on the slippery slope towards privatization, higher fares and less service for our public transit system. Sign and share the petition today to stop Doug Ford and keep our subway in Toronto hands.

Watch: 2018 Labour Day March

by nanderson

Labour Day marks all that we have achieved for Canadians workers by standing together. It is also a reminder of what’s at stake – fair wages, benefits and health and safety protections we all depend on.

At this year’s Labour Day March in Toronto, ATU Local 113 joined with ATU Canada and TTCriders to send a clear message: Doug Ford must Keep Transit Public. We know that uploading the subway is the first step on a slippery slope towards privatization, fare hikes and reduced service. Doug Ford should properly fund the TTC – not break it apart. Torontonians paid for the subway, they own it – and now we must fight to save it.

Watch and share the video below – then sign the petition before it is too late https://wemovetoronto.ca/petition/

Elect 47 City Councillors and a Mayor who will Keep Transit Public

by nanderson

The Ontario court’s decision to put the brakes on Doug Ford’s reckless assault on local democracy was the right decision. Looking ahead to the election on October 22, it is more important than ever for Torontonians to elect 47 city councillors and a mayor who will stand up and fight for Torontonians, including keeping public transit in city hands. We must work together to stop Doug Ford from stealing our subway system through uploading. Torontonians paid for the subway, they own it – and now we must fight to save it.

Sign the petition to Keep Transit Public: here.

Stop Doug Ford and Keep Toronto’s Subways Public

by nanderson

Doug Ford is trying to steal Toronto’s subway – the first step in a slippery slope towards privatization, service delays and fare hikes. He recently announced a “Special Advisor” to take control of the public transit system from the Torontonians who own, operate and maintain it.

As this is happening, Mayor John Tory asks Doug Ford for, ‘consultation.’ Mayor Tory, if you met with us, after repeated promises and requests from our Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Morton, you would know that the uploading of the subway is bad news for the City of Toronto. It means we lose control and accountability for the transit that serves us. The Mayor of Toronto should be advocating for Torontonians, not appeasing the bulldozer at Queen’s Park. In moments when we must unite to protect our city, the over 10,000 transit workers notice who stands beside them — and who buckles. Especially in an election year.

Now is the time to stand together with transit workers, riders and advocates to stop Doug Ford and Keep Transit Public.

Here is how you can take action:

  1. Sign the Petition
  2. March in the Labour Day Parade

ATU Local 113 Supports IATSE Local 58 Workers and Will Not Cross Picket Line for TTC Accessibility Forum

by nanderson

ATU Local 113 is disappointed the Toronto Transit Commission is holding their 10th annual Accessibility Forum on September 13 across the IATSE Local 58 picket line at Exhibition Place.

We support our Sisters and Brothers at IATSE Local 58. If workers are not back on the job by September 13, ATU Local 113 will not attend the TTC’s forum. We encourage all members to show their support by doing the same.

Our Sisters and Brothers regularly advocate to improve our system and we’ll continue to do this important work while respecting the right of all workers to fair collective bargaining.