Author: Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 is pleased to announce the second official winner of our Union Savings promotion! Congratulations to Eric Lienau (Subway Track and Structures)!

The United Indigenous Council (UIC) was founded in 2021 as an Indigenous-led body within the Amalgamated Transit Union – Local 113. Our mandate is rooted in advancing Indigenous visibility, fostering cultural safety, and ensuring Indigenous voices are not only heard, but meaningfully integrated into the spaces where decisions are made.

INTERNAL ADVOCACY

Since our formation, the UIC has collaborated with the TTC’s Racial Equity Department, along with community partners and Indigenous organizations, to plan and support events that honour Indigenous cultures and histories while pushing for deeper structural change. Our efforts are guided by the teachings of our ancestors and the lived experiences of Indigenous workers across the system.

This year, the UIC has taken a leading role in coordinating Indigenous Peoples Month programming, beginning with the Sunrise Ceremony held on June 2nd at Arrow Road. The ceremony, led by Elder Paul, was a spiritual and symbolic way to welcome the month, and a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusion and cultural safety in the workplace. As Indigenous people, we gather in circle — where all voices matter and where everyone has a place. We are working to bring this spirit into the heart of the TTC, not just for ceremony, but in everyday practice.

OUTREACH

In addition to our internal advocacy, the UIC has supported and participated in external community events such as the May 5th Red Dress Day ceremony at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT). That same day, we also hosted an outreach table at Spadina Station to raise awareness and create visibility for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2S+ people. Engaging directly with commuters allowed us to bring the message into public transit spaces, sparking meaningful conversations and sharing resources with riders and staff alike.

Our council is also supporting Indigenous youth leadership through continued partnerships with ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency and Toronto Council Fire. We’ve been involved in design campaign workshops, youth council planning sessions, and mentorship opportunities with Indigenous youth. We believe that creating intergenerational spaces for learning, empowerment, and cultural connection is essential to the future of Indigenous visibility and healing in urban transit spaces.

On June 20th, the UIC took part in the Summer Solstice celebration hosted by Council Fire at the Aga Khan Museum.

In addition to participating in this external event, we will also be hosting our own sunrise ceremony at a TTC bus division. This internal ceremony continues our efforts to ground Indigenous Peoples Month in sacred practices, while bringing cultural presence directly into TTC spaces. By holding ceremony on site, we reaffirm that cultural safety must be lived out where we work, not just acknowledged from a distance.

PATH AHEAD

While we are proud of the progress made so far, we also recognize that there is still much work to be done in order to effect deeper structural changes. True inclusion demands more than participation. It requires policy changes that reflect the Calls to Action and Calls to Justice. We continue to advocate for education, systemic accountability, and safety.

UNITED INDIGENOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS (2025)

Brent Pelletier, Mike Chow, Seldon Smith, Lyndon Akiwenzie, Dawn Stiles, Tamara Goulding-Pereira (Recording-Secretary) and Mike Judd (Executive Board Representative)

ATU Local 113 wishes our members and fellow Canadians a Happy Canada Day! Although we celebrate this country as the land of opportunity, we also acknowledge the need for continued reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples.

The UIC held a Sunrise Ceremony in partnership with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) and led by Elder Paul. The gathering marks the close of Indigenous Peoples Month and offered a time for reflection, unity, and a collective recommitment to reconciliation and inclusion.

ATU Local 113 is pleased to announce the first official winner of our Union Savings promotion! Congratulations to Jaivik Patel (Light Rail Apprentice)!

Today, ATU Local 113 recognizes and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples from across Turtle Island.

Remember to take a moment to reflect on the significance of Juneteenth and its impact on our communities.

While Juneteenth is a beacon of hope, it’s also a symbol of freedom.

Today, we celebrate Father’s Day, an occasion to express gratitude, love, and respect for all the incredible dads. Happy Father’s Day!

Today, as families and communities come together in celebration, ATU Local 113 extends heartfelt Eid al-Adha greetings to our members and to everyone in Toronto’s diverse Muslim community. Eid al-Adha is a time of reflection, compassion, and unity. We honour these values and thank all frontline transit workers who continue to serve our city with dedication and care.

Wishing you and your loved ones Eid Mubarak!

ATU Local 113, representing 12,500 transit workers, a majority of the TTC workforce, is urging the new CEO for an urgent and immediate shift in workplace culture to one that genuinely invests in the knowledge, skills and dignity of transit workers.

“For far too long, workers have not been given the respect, appreciation or support they deserve,” said Marvin Alfred, President, ATU Local 113. “The decision is whether they want to continue the practice of gaslighting the public about service levels or to make authentic improvements to service and reliability that riders can see and feel.”

“Will he advocate publicly for sustainable, predictable funding from all levels of government and invest in state-of-good-repair? Or will he continue to impose austerity and defer critical maintenance?” He continued. “We will work with the new CEO, as long as he’s willing to work with us to make the TTC better, safer and more reliable.”

ATU Local 113 is ready to engage with the company’s leadership to ensure that a workplace culture change is implemented swiftly, which in turn will lead to improved public transit for workers and riders.