ATU Local 113 is proud to reconnect with The Children’s Breakfast Clubs to support their program to bring 200 children from Driftwood PS to Ottawa as part of the organization’s 2023 Black History Month celebrations. 
ATU Local 113’s Political Action Committee distribute flyers informing passengers of the City of Toronto’s plan to reduce service
The City of Toronto is planning service cuts that will impact all Torontonians. Riders have the right to know.
ATU Local 113’s Political Action Committee distributed flyers to transit riders yesterday, informing them of these changes & encouraging a call to action.
ATU Canada Equity and Inclusion Committee Meeting
ATU Canada Equity and Inclusion Committee will be hosting a meeting on February 16, 2023 and are inviting all ATU Members to join the meeting – see the registration link below. All meeting dates for 2023 are also listed on the attached poster.
Zoom registration
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Feb 16, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkdemhqzojHNx-Chh1cYG1qT-9RcNJfabu
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
ATU Local 113 joins NDP MPPs at Queen’s Park
Our President, Marvin Alfred, and Executive Board Member, Brian Connolly, were at Queen’s Park today talking with MPP Joel Harden (Transit Critic) and MPP Jill Andrew about the impact of P3s on public transit and the need for transparency on how public funds are spent.
TTC Service cuts: Riders deserve to know, Council has a responsibility
Local 113 is calling on City Council to demand information necessary to make informed decisions on system-wide service cuts.
On February 15, City Council will be considering a budget proposal to make deep cuts to public transit. We know from the TTC that it includes a 9% cut system-wide and a 25% cut to rapid transit service compared to pre-pandemic levels. Combined with a fare increase, these cuts are a threat to the long- term viability of our transit system. A recent open letter from more than 100 transit and urban researchers noted that these “cuts to service are likely to initiate a ridership death spiral in which long wait time and poorer service leads to ridership drops, which in turn lead to further revenue losses and cuts.”
At its January 9 meeting, the TTC Board was asked to make the details of the cuts public. They have not done so. Riders deserve to know if their route is being cut and City Council has a responsibility to know the impact of their decisions.
ATU Local 113 is calling on Toronto City Council to demand that the proposed service cuts be made public before they consider the budget.
Highlights from Our TTC: Safety for All Townhall on February 9
ATU Local 113 President, Marvin Alfred, highlighted at a townhall yesterday evening that the TTC has become an extension of the city’s homeless shelter system because the existing shelter system is underfunded.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-safety-townhall-violence-1.6743683
Our TTC: Safety for All Townhall on February 9
ATU Local 113 President, Marvin Alfred, joined @TTCriders along with other transit advocates at a townhall last night to discuss how the TTC is becoming increasingly unsafe for transit workers and riders.
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/02/09/toronto-etc-violence-ttcriders-meeting/
Ongoing Litigation
Yesterday Local 113 took its fight for the right to strike to the Ontario Superior Court. Our legal team, led by Ian Fellows, presented our case to the court. The right to strike is historic and guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is the latest chapter in our ongoing campaign for the restoration of this basic human right. The Committee for Freedom of Association, a body of the International Labour Organization, has already twice ruled in favour of Local 113 finding the Province’s strike ban law is contrary to Canada’s international commitments. Those decisions were presented to his honour, Justice Chalmers who is the judge hearing our case. The hearing will continue today with arguments from the Province’s lawyers and reply by our legal team. It is expected that a written decision will be issued at a later date after the court has had time to review the legal arguments and over 10,000 pages of evidence presented in this case.
ATU Local 113 President to participate in public transit safety townhall tonight
How can we create a safer TTC for all? RSVP to share what a safe, dignified, and accessible public transit system means to you.
ATU Local 113 President, Marvin Alfred, is one of several guest speakers.
Our TTC: Safety For All
Public Transit Safety Townhall
7:00pm-8:30pm
Thursday, Feb. 9
Online or 941 Progress Ave
RSVP: www.ttcriders.ca/safetytownhall
ATU Local 113 applauds our heroic member for saving four seniors in Scarborough
Yesterday evening, a car driver accidently turned onto the GO train tracks at Finch Avenue in Scarborough. The car driver attempted to make a U-turn, and their vehicle was stuck while a GO train was approaching.
One of our members ran onto the tracks and opened the doors to the car. They were able to unbuckle and assist four seniors in the car and bring them back to safety.
Moments later, the car was struck by the train and became wedged underneath it.
“Our members continue to inspire the community with their acts of kindness, bravery, and selflessness,” said Marvin Alfred, President of ATU Local 113. “The operator has shared with us that they are glad to have been able to help people that were in danger, and that they are humbled by all the praise they have received.”
Thank you to our member, a transit operator at the TTC, for their quick thinking and heroism.