ATU Local 113 calls for action and working together to stop violence and harassment in our workplace.
ATU Local 113’s President speaks to workplace safety for transit workers
Earlier this year, President Marvin Alfred recorded this statement as part of our ongoing efforts to prioritize workplace safety for transit workers.
ATU Local 113 has completed its Violence and Harassment survey and the information will be available soon. Come back to our website for further updates in the coming days as we prepare to mark Transit Worker Assault Awareness Day on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
ATU Local 113 supports the call for a public inquiry regarding the Eglinton Crosstown
ATU Local 113 supports holding Premier Ford and Metrolinx accountable for the Eglinton Crosstown disaster. ATU Local 113 fully supports the call for a public inquiry to be held immediately to address the lack of transparency, accountability and ongoing conduct that is not in the best interest of the public and transportation needs.
The Eglinton Crosstown is another demonstration of consistent failures of LRT expansion across the province, as we have seen with the Ottawa Confederation Line LRT.
Public-Private-Partnerships, known as P3s, deliver billions of dollars to the friends of government and leave taxpayers paying billions extra in construction and maintenance costs for substandard work and years of delay in public transit expansion.
The public inquiry will help shed light on the safety concerns and mismanagement of public funds, with no accountability to the transit users and taxpayers of Toronto. We have to stop power without accountability.
Standing up for Members and Riders in the Media: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Violence on TTC
ATU Local 113 members are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Vanessa Kurpiewska, 31, of Toronto who died after she was stabbed on a subway at High Park Station on Thursday, December 8. The accused also injured another woman in the attack. We continue to wish the injured woman a full recovery.
With the escalation of assaults and attacks on the TTC, ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred spoke today with local and national media on how the TTC and the City of Toronto must take immediate action to make the TTC safer for workers and riders.
ATU Local 113 will continue to stand up for members and riders as this senseless violence must come to and end.
News Coverage
Television
(click to view clip)
ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred also did interviews that aired on CP24, CBC News Toronto and AM 640 Global.
Online/Print
Toronto Star: High Park subway stabbing leaves woman dead
Toronto Sun: Witness recounts deadly ‘icepick’ attack on TTC subway
CBC News: Police identify woman killed in random double stabbing on Toronto subway train
CP24: Toronto subway station stabbing: woman dead; suspect in custody
Canadian Press/Toronto Star: Woman dead in Toronto subway stabbing didn’t know attacker; mayor says transit safe
ATU Local 113 donates to Sick Kids Hospital and the MS Society of Canada
Marvin Alfred, President, and the Executive Board of Local 113, presented donations to Sick Kids Hospital and the MS Society of Canada on behalf of our union at the recent General Meeting. Sick Kids Hospital helps save the lives of children and the MS Society of Canada conducts critical research that benefit countless Canadians who battle Multiple Sclerosis, a life altering illness. We were glad to be able to contribute to their ongoing work.
The TTC and the City of Toronto need to do more to protect transit workers!
We have another serious act of violence against a TTC worker. The TTC and the City of Toronto need to do more to protect transit workers from violence. The TTC can no longer wait until it is convenient to fill its obligations of protecting transit workers from harm. We, as transit workers, are not a disposable, renewable resource.
Statement: Lifting of Mandatory COVID19 Vaccination Policy
Throughout the pandemic, ATU Local 113 has tried to work with the TTC to keep workers and the public safe. From masking to social distancing to vaccinations, the TTC has chosen to act unilaterally instead of collaboratively – often too late or ineffectively.
The TTC could have sat down with us from the beginning to implement vaccination policies in a reasonable way. Instead, management chose an approach that violated members’ rights. No other workers faced a comparable approach. In the education, healthcare and policing sectors other agencies serving the public managed to encourage and require vaccinations without resorting to illegal terminations. We have pushed from day one for hearings to resolve the issue as soon as possible; the TTC has not.
Now, after many months of legal action, the TTC has finally accepted their mistake and reversed their decision. We are pleased that the uncertainty and frustration experienced by our members and their families may be coming to an end. We are just disappointed that it took so much time and conflict to get us here.
We want the TTC and the City of Toronto to respect the rights of Transit Workers.
ATU Local 113 members should know:
- Our grievance challenging the reasonableness of the Policy and related terminations will continue.
- We believe many employees are properly eligible for back pay. This is included in the grievance.
- If members are given an offer letter, please share it with the Union so that we can provide advice and assistance.
ATU Local 113 has also asked for a meeting to clarify details with the commission as soon as possible. We will provide further information to members, as we receive it.
ATU Local 113’s Statement on the TTC’s plan to reinstate our members
ATU Local 113 learned today of the TTC’s plan to reinstate those members terminated for failure to comply with TTC’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy. This action was long overdue, and we are pleased that the uncertainty and frustration experienced by these members and their families may be coming to an end.
We have been provided no information outside of the corporate notice posted today, and we are seeking urgent clarification from the TTC as to the terms of these “offers of employment”. We believe many employees are also eligible for back pay. Our grievance challenging the reasonableness of the Policy and related terminations will continue.
We will provide further information as we receive it.
Calling ATU Local 113 members to join solidarity rally
ATU held a press conference yesterday at Queen’s Park, as a result, Metrolinx has now agreed to go back to the bargaining table today at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto.
We are asking all allies of striking GO Transit workers who are able to attend to join the rally at the Sheraton Hotel on Queen Street at 12:30 pm for a Rally. Bring your signs, flags, and voices!
WHAT: GO Transit striking workers’ Rally
DATE: November 10, 2022
TIME: 12:30 pm
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel, 123 Queen Street, Toronto (front of hotel)
Statement from ATU Local 113
We learned today of revisions to the City of Toronto mandatory vaccination policy and reinstatement of terminated employees. ATU Local 113 is looking closely at this announcement and will seek to meet with the TTC regarding the ongoing TTC policy and over 300 related terminations.