Author: Stephanie Gomez

We stand with our Brothers and Sisters at ATU Local 1320 as they advocate for a living wage for our fellow transit workers.

Use the link below to send an automated email to Peterborough City Council and their Mayor and show your solidarity.

Where’s the Fairness? | The Ontario Federation of Labour

ATU Local 113 would like to wish our members a happy Diwali!

May the festival of lights bring you and your family health, happiness, and success.

ATU Local 113 Executive Vice-President Angie Clark and Executive Board Member Nick Mitropoulos paid their tributes at the Remembrance Day ceremonies at Etobicoke City Hall.

ATU Local 113 President Marvin Alfred with Master Corporal Uong from 32 Service Battalion laying a wreath at the Remembrance service today. 

November 11^th marks Remembrance Day, a day dedicated to honouring and remembering those who have served and continue to serve our country in times of war and peace. ATU Local 113 encourages everyone to take two minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. today to remember those who have lost their lives serving our country.  #LestWeForget

ATU Local 113’s executive board members came out to support Hamilton transit workers of Local 107 on the picket lines yesterday.

ATU Local 113 is proud to be supporting the Hamilton transit workers of Local 107 on the first day of their strike for a livable wage.

Following the release of the 2023 Ontario fall economic outlook, ATU Local 113 would like to express our disappointment in the lack of provincial funding for public transit.  While the government continues to invest in new projects and transit expansion, it neglects operational funding. Without providing the necessary resources to hire and retain transit workers, as well as improve the overall quality and standard of service along these new routes, these transit expansion projects will not have the support systems they need to run.

Transit workers keep the TTC running. They are on the ground every day, working to ensure that riders can get to their destinations safely and efficiently. The provincial government needs to do more to support the operation of transit systems.

Additionally, the government continues to overlook the funding needs of municipalities to help address local issues. Improving the safety of transit workers and TTC riders in Toronto requires support at the community level.

We need to improve service on the TTC and ensure better safety for transit workers and riders. This requires Premier Ford and his government to work with Mayor Chow to assess the needs of Toronto’s transit system.

ATU Local 113’s United Indigenous Council led a Sunrise Ceremony at Arrow Road yesterday to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

Our Vice-President Angie Clark and the Wardens of ATU Local 113 joined in the ceremony to acknowledge the tragic history of Canada, the resilience of Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, and to honour the children who were impacted or never returned from residential schools.

Brent Pelletier, a member of the United Indigenous Council of ATU Local 113, addressed the gathering at the Sunrise Ceremony. Speaking of the generational trauma of residential schools Pelletier said, “Every single one of your Indigenous friends is either a residential school survivor, a survivor’s child, a survivor’s grandchild, or all three – Every single one.”

In support of the Indigenous people who are healing from the atrocities of the Residential School System, a Sacred Fire was built and attendees wore ‘Every Child Matters’ orange shirts. The Honour Song was recited to the children whose lives were taken and the survivors, families and communities that were left to put the broken pieces together.

Pelletier, a member of ATU Local 113 for 30 years, said, “The orange shirt symbolizes the stripping of our culture, language, traditions, freedom, and self esteem. So, my message to our young people is: Do everything they tried to destroy. learn and sing our songs, learn our dances, go to our ceremonies, develop your cultural identity, learn your language, and sit with our Elders. Let’s heal together.”

Clark recognized the work of Local 113’s United Indigenous Council and thanked them for their incredible commitment and unwavering dedication in lighting the way in our community and in our place of work towards learning and healing.

Clark acknowledged, “By wearing orange today, we stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples. This is an important day of remembrance and reflection.”