Author: Stephanie Gomez

Petition: Ontario Must Recognize Transmission of COVID-19 Through Aerosols

by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 needs your help with this important petition.

Change.org: Better Health Protection: Ontario Must Recognize Transmission of COVID-19 Through Aerosols

We’re calling on the Ontario government and Public Health Ontario to acknowledge the risk of COVID-19 transmission through aerosols. By signing this petition, you can urge the government to change its COVID-19 transmission guidelines and protect frontline workers by ensuring access to proper PPE and creating better ventilation for indoor spaces.

Together, let’s get the Ontario government to create healthier workplaces across Ontario! Please share this petition with your family, friends and co-workers.

ATU Local 113 Statement on Black History Month Poster

by Stephanie Gomez

Sisters and Brothers,

ATU Local 113 is proud of its work to launch the largest, most comprehensive Black History Month program in our union’s history that includes an anti-racism workshop series and giving members a platform to share heartfelt stories about their own experiences.

Our member stories included a poster that shared the experience of a union member who is the adopted daughter of a Black parent and the mother of a bi-racial child. The sole purpose of sharing this mother’s story was for members to learn about her experience being raised by a Black parent and raising a bi-racial child. We have learned that some members were offended by the inclusion of this poster in our Black History Month program.

To be clear, ATU Local 113 takes full responsibility for this poster. Due to her interracial family and her history of being an ally of the Black community, we encouraged the member to share her story, along with the stories of six other ATU Local 113 members who are Black. This member was even concerned that her inclusion would cause controversy. We’d like to apologize to the member and set the record straight. This member did nothing wrong and we take full responsibility for this poster.

ATU Local 113 would also like to apologize to all members who were offended by the poster. It was never our intention to offend anyone. While members of diverse backgrounds were involved in ATU Local 113’s Black History Month programming, we could have done a better job consulting our membership, including members who are Black. We apologize and we’ll learn from this.

Our union’s work on racial justice and combatting anti-Black racism will continue after February 28. We look forward to having our members, including members who are Black, help shape this important programming.

In Solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

ATU Local 113 urges the TTC to protect members’ personal information

by Stephanie Gomez

President Carlos Santos released the following statement regarding ATU Local 113’s recent grievance about the TTC displaying bus operator badge numbers on vehicles.

“ATU Local 113’s members have expressed significant concerns with the TTC publicly disclosing their badge numbers on buses. Badge numbers are tied to confidential personal information, including payroll, benefits, and third-party bank accounts, and our members feel that this is a clear violation of their privacy. The public disclosure of personal information such as badge numbers could increase the risk of identity theft, fraud, and increased harassment.

ATU Local 113 is committed to protecting the privacy of its members and is disappointed with the dismissal of the grievance in arbitration. Our union will continue to stand up for member’s rights, including the right to privacy, and urges the TTC to follow the guidance of the arbitrator and work with ATU Local 113 to find a solution that does not involve the public disclosure of member information.”

TTC Spokesperson Stuart Green said management has no intention of scrapping the policy. The TTC plans to start displaying streetcar operators’ numbers as it upgrades those vehicles’ communication systems and will consider incorporating the feature in its next purchase of subway cars.

President Carlos Santos and ATU Local 113 are urging the TTC to follow the arbitrator’s recommendation and develop a new system that would give riders enough information to provide accurate feedback while not divulging badge numbers of transit workers.

Toronto Star: Union loses fight to stop TTC from displaying drivers’ badge numbers on buses

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos’ statement on $14.9 billion transit funding announcement

by Stephanie Gomez

Please see below for ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos’ statement on yesterday’s announcement that the federal government will provide $14.9 billion for public transit projects across Canada over the next eight years.

“While any new funding for transit is welcome, this announcement includes no new funding for transit operations which is what ATU Local 113, ATU Canada and other allies have been advocating for. Operational funding is what the TTC and other transit systems need to recover from the pandemic and help kickstart our economy.

As the government clarifies the distribution of the announced funding in the coming weeks, ATU Local 113 will continue to advocate for funding to support the TTC’s operations”

CBC: Trudeau pledges billions in permanent funding for public transit

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos’ Statement on Shameful Removal of an Operator’s Black History Month Display

by Stephanie Gomez

Here is a statement from Carlos Santos, ATU Local 113 President, regarding the shameful removal of a bus driver’s Black History Month display at Wilson Division.

“ATU Local 113 is deeply concerned and has demanded answers from the TTC as to why a TTC manager removed our member’s Black History Month display at Wilson Division. I spoke with TTC CEO Rick Leary today about this incident and he confirmed the TTC is investigating the matter. We will always fight back against acts of intolerance.”

Toronto Sun: TTC investigating removal of bus driver’s Black History Month display

Ontario Government Extends Emergency Child Care Services to ATU Local 113 Members

by Stephanie Gomez

While we wish the government had moved sooner, we’re happy the province has listened to our union and extended emergency child care services to ATU Local 113 members.

Find out more here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/statement/60254/ontario-expands-emergency-child-care-to-more-frontline-workers

– ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos and the Executive Board

Letter to Premier Ford - Daycare - January 29, 2021

Toronto transit workers and riders call on Premier Ford to legislate employer-paid sick days

by Stephanie Gomez

Sisters and Brothers,

Transit workers and riders have come together to call for universal employer-paid sick days because it will make public transit safer and make transit workplaces fairer. Paid sick days are urgently needed to save lives and curb the spread of COVID 19.

We, the undersigned, support the Decent Work & Health Network call for seven (7) permanent paid sick days for all workers and an additional fourteen (14) days during public health outbreaks. We will encourage our members to get involved in the campaign for paid sick days.

Signed,

ATU Local 113
TTCRiders
CUPE Local 2
SEIU Local 2

Every transit worker needs employer-paid sick days

Not all TTC workers have access to paid sick days, because some TTC work has been contracted out to private companies and temp agencies, where workers have fewer protections. This is why we support keeping transit public. Provincial legislation is needed to make sure that every worker in Ontario has access to paid sick leave.

Paid sick days will make transit safer for everyone

Without provincially legislated paid sick days, people are travelling to work on transit while sick. This puts other passengers and transit workers at risk. The lack of paid sick days has especially hurt Black, Indigenous, workers of colour and women workers who are over-represented in frontline jobs, with low pay, few benefits, and without the ability to work from home.

Join the movement for paid sick days for all!

Ways you can support:

Call your MPP: https://www.15andfairness.org/paid_sick_days_for_all

Send an email message: https://www.decentworkandhealth.org/paidsickdays

Pass a resolution: https://springmag.ca/legislate-paid-sick-days-for-all-draft-motion