ATU Local 113 wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with gratitude, warmth, and cherished moments with family and friends.
Get involved in the City’s Budget Consultation
The City of Toronto has begun the 2026 budget consultations. As public transit workers of Toronto, it is important that our union’s members are heard on matters impacting the reliability of transit service and the safety of riders and workers.
Please see the links below on how you can get involved and some background information on the budget process:
https://www.toronto.ca/news/city-of-toronto-2026-budget-process/
Important Dates:
Online survey:
- Friday, October 31 – Toronto residents can complete the online survey.
In-person and virtual consultations:
In-Person Consultations
- Tuesday, October 14, 7 to 9 p.m., St. Lawrence Market North, Market Hall, 92 Front St. E.
- Saturday, October 18, noon to 2 p.m., Etobicoke Olympium, Large Gym, 590 Rathburn Rd.
- Wednesday, October 22, 7 to 9 p.m., North York Memorial Hall, Burgundy Rooms A & B, 5110 Yonge St.
- Thursday, October 23, 7 to 9 p.m., Scarborough Civic Centre, Rotunda, 150 Borough Dr.
Virtual Consultations
- Monday, October 27, noon to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 29, 7 to 9 p.m.
You can register to attend an in-person or virtual consultation on the City’s 2026 Budget webpage.
World Mental Health Day
ATU Local 113 recognizes World Mental Health Day. Today, we stand together to raise awareness, break the stigma, and support the importance of mental well-being for all. Remember, you are not alone.
ATU 113 at the Frontline Basketball Tournament
The ATU Local 113 basketball team competed in The Frontlines Basketball Tournament over the weekend, held at the Pan-Am Sports Centre in Toronto.
Local 113 is proud to support The Frontline – an initiative to build a community to celebrate the GTA’s frontline workers, focusing on mental health and wellness of essential workers. It consists of sports tournaments, such as basketball, soccer, and softball, comprised of teams from the GTA’s most essential services such as the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, CUPE 416, and the ATU Local 113, tightening a community of people that help the Greater Toronto Area thrive.
The weekend’s event featured 12 teams competing in the basketball tournament and a series of workshops for Frontline workers and their families.
National Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30th we commemorated the National Truth and Reconciliation Day – an opportunity for us to continue educating ourselves about the tragic history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the resilience of these communities, and to honour the children who were impacted or never returned.
Open House at Greenwood Shop
ATU Local 113 recently participated in the open house at Greenwood Shop which showcased the important skilled work of our dedicated maintenance crews – the people behind the scenes that keep our city moving.
Our Executive Board Members were on hand at the ATU 113 booth to answer questions from the visiting public and family members about skilled-trade work done at Greenwood Shop. The open house was an opportunity to showcase the work of a variety of roles that make public transit possible, including truck and axle repair persons, the machine shop, vehicle repair persons, coach technicians, subway vehicle technicians, millwrights, electrical and electronics bench fitters, and much more.
ATU 113 would like to thank everyone who came out to attend the event and learn about transit workers behind the scenes.
Support Neethan Shan for Scarborough – Rouge Park By-election – Sept 29th
The Scarborough – Rouge Park By-election will be held on Monday, September 29th.
If you live in the ward, it’s important to get out the vote and have your voice heard.
ATU Local 113 has endorsed Neethan Shan who is a strong ally to public transit and will be a progressive voice at City Hall.
To volunteer and support his campaign, visit https://neethanshan.ca/
For the City’s election information, visit https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/2025-by-election-councillor-ward-25-scarborough-rouge-park/
Funding Transit – Takeaways from the Ontario Transit Funding Forum
Earlier this week, Local 113 Executive Vice President Angie Clark was invited to present ideas for funding transit to the Ontario Transit Funding Forum, hosted by Transit Futures. Government, academic, industry and NGO leaders heard Angie explain that we need to regain the public’s trust before we ask them for more money – and the only way to do that is through transparency, accountability, and better service. This starts with ending privatization of transit, launching a full inquiry into the Eglinton Crosstown, and prioritizing maintaining and operating what we have – ahead of building new lines.
Based on her years of experience at TTC, Angie described how fare and service decisions are made for politicians, not for riders. For example, workers were told making riders 12 and under free was a misunderstanding, and the policy was never studied for its effectiveness at attracting riders. Right now, TTC is trying to give cross-boundary bus routes to outside operators with no plan to protect current service or allocate fare revenue.
She also explained how Toronto’s transit expansion is a disaster because Metrolinx gave control to the private sector. The Eglinton-Crosstown is way over budget and years late. The Ontario Line is set to cost $1.47 billion per kilometre – making it one of the most expensive subways in history. Local 113 believes that the public is owed some answers before they are asked to provide even more funding.
The public is confused, and for good reason: They are told billions are being invested to improve transit, but all they see is service getting worse because there’s not enough – and what there is, is unreliable and crowded. Cuts to maintenance funding led directly to constant subway delays and the catastrophic Scarborough RT derailment. The streetcar system, meanwhile, is in managed decline and basic bus-only lanes fail because there isn’t enough public support.
The solution Angie put forward, was to rebuild public trust by:
- Putting riders first in all our transit planning and policy decisions
- Increase service to make it more comfortable and reliable, and to attract more riders
- Improve rider experience by making sure the service on the street matches what we promise
- Showing we’re spending responsibly
- Make sure operations and maintenance are funded, and only then consider expansion.
- Launch a full public inquiry into Eglinton-Crosstown to understand the cost overruns and delays
- Demonstrating the value of investing in transit
- Rethink the P3 model of expensive, privatized expansion project
- Maintain public ownership and control of all transit
Congratulations to Our 2025 John Lorimer Scholarship Recipients
ATU Local 113 is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 John Lorimer Scholarships.
The forty scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic excellence. Local 113 is honoured to support their educational journey. Together, we are investing in the next generation of leaders.
Congratulations to all the recipients and we wish them continued success in their future endeavours!2025 John Lorimer Scholarship poster
Support Neethan Shan for Scarborough – Rouge Park By-election
ATU Local 113 has endorsed Neethan Shan in the upcoming Scarborough – Rouge Park by-election.
Neethan Shan has demonstrated that he is a strong ally to public transit and will be a progressive voice at City Hall.
If you live in the ward, it’s important to get out the vote: Advance voting on Sept 20 & 21, 2025
To volunteer and support his campaign, visit https://neethanshan.ca/