Author: Stephanie Gomez

On March 25, a 16 year old was killed after a stabbing at Keele Station. It was an unprovoked, random attack against an innocent passenger.

This ongoing violence needs to stop.

Less than 48 hours later there was another stabbing on a TTC bus near Keele Station.

ATU Local 113 President, Marvin Alfred, spoke to media about the ongoing violence on public transit and the lasting impact it has on transit workers and riders.

News Coverage

Online/Print

Toronto Star: No fast or easy answers to make the TTC safe, say city officials | The Star

CTV Toronto: TTC teen stabbing victim remembered as good friend | CTV News

CityNews: Teen killed in Toronto subway station stabbing remembered as kind, good friend | CityNews Toronto

Broadcast/Radio

CP24: ATU Local 113 President comments on the TTC incident 

CTV Toronto: Teen was sitting on bench when fatally stabbed | CTV News

City News 680: Teen killed in Toronto subway station stabbing remembered as kind, good friend | CityNews Toronto

We are dismayed at the incidents of violence on the TTC this past weekend. Two incidents of violence were reported, one of which has led to the tragedy of loss of life of a young person. Any loss of life on public transit has a lasting impact on families and communities of those directly involved, as well as on transit riders and transit workers.

We at ATU Local 113 have been continuously asking the TTC, the City of Toronto and the Province to prioritize transit safety for workers and transit users. Nothing has changed yet.

We have stated before that the difficult conversations about public transit safety need to happen.

First, it can only be effective if all stakeholders are present, and with real, accurate and current data from the Toronto Police Service and the TTC. It will require leaving politics at the door. 

Second, with the upcoming election, Toronto needs a mayor who understands allocating funds to public transit is not a cost, it is an investment – an investment in transit safety, maintaining dependable service, and state of good repair.

For the long-term viability of public transit, we need to prioritize safety.

ATU Local 113 is proud to bring back our tradition of giving back to our community and one of our favorite sports events – the ATU 113 All-Stars vs Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Tournament in support of MS Research. 

We’d like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni, the ATU Local 113 All-Stars, members of the ATU Family, ATU Local 113 volunteers, members, and friends!

Thank you everyone for making this event a huge success!

– Executive Board

Today, we join workers and riders across North America to celebrate Transit Worker Appreciation Day. The TTC has been in the news too often lately for the wrong reasons.

Violent incidents and declining ridership are a fact of life for us. Service cuts and fare increases will make the system more crowded, less reliable, and increase conflict. We know how hard members work every day to serve the people of Toronto.

Today, we are asking everyone to take a moment to say thank you to transit workers.

Workers and passengers are in this together. We need to respect and appreciate each other to keep Toronto moving comfortably, safely, and reliably.

In solidarity,

Executive Board

ATU Local 113

In celebration of #InternationalWomensDay, a member of ATU Local 113’s Women’s Committee sat down with Irma James, the TTC’s first black female streetcar operator, to discuss her story.

Irma shared her experience of applying for the job and the feeling of knowing she was paving the way for future women to work at the TTC.

Thank you, Irma, for breaking a glass ceiling so that more women and women of colour would feel comfortable operating buses, streetcars, and trains.

On behalf of the ATU Local 113 Women’s Committee and our Executive Board, we would like to wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day!

This year’s theme is Embrace Equity. This theme acknowledges that while we are all working towards the same goal of equity, we do so from different starting points. Regardless of the differences, we should continue to help each other and women in the communities we serve.

Today, we celebrate our sisters at ATU Local 113. Thank you for all you do.

All members are encouraged to join us this Saturday, March 4 for an International Women’s Day event. The Rally begins at 11 a.m., followed by a March at 1 p.m.

We hope to see you there.

Although February is coming to an end, we must acknowledge the importance of celebrating Black history and culture throughout the year.

It is essential to recognize and honour the past and present contributions and struggles of Black individuals and communities, so we can build a better future for everyone.