Author: Stephanie Gomez

Sisters and Brothers,

ATU Local 113 joins our colleagues in Canada’s labour movement in expressing solidarity with millions of agricultural workers in India protesting legislation that would put their livelihoods at risk. The new farm laws, which were enacted last year without any stakeholder engagement or debate, would expose individual farmers directly to the global food industry and international markets and take away the supports and tools for collective action that they have today.

By turning food staples into a financial commodity, these new laws risk driving India’s millions of small farms further into debt, poverty and insecurity while removing a secure source of food for the poor. About 70% of Indians rely on agriculture and the new laws are an unprecedented destabilization of the livelihood and food supply of hundreds of millions of people. The laws are being put forward by the anti-worker Modi government at the request of international corporate interests and the governments of wealthy, western nations.

Millions of farmers and their supporters have maintained protests for months, including ongoing blockades around Delhi. While the protests have been peaceful, the government’s response has not been. Protesters have been met with assault, arrest and detention. The movement has grown to other industries across India and to other countries around the world to become the largest workers’ movement in modern history.

Workers all over the world are being pushed into poverty and insecurity by business interests and the governments that support them. In India as in Canada, we are seeing the goods and services we rely on, like food, shelter or transportation, become commodities for financial speculation for profit. When this happens, prices go up and working people suffer. The only winners are the corporate interests who extract profit.

ATU Local 113 stands in solidarity with our Brothers and Sisters in India. We also stand with our members with family in India for whom this is personal. Your struggle is our struggle. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We call on all people, workers, government officials and leaders to join us and our ATU Brothers and Sisters to wholeheartedly condemn the actions of the Indian government.

In Solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

ATU Local 113 wishes our members a fast and quick recovery and stands with those who are concerned about potential exposure to the coronavirus.

“The TTC should be sending all workers at any work location who may have been exposed to COVID-19 home to self-monitor for symptoms. It’s regrettable that our members only get 75% of pay when sick or forced to self-isolate due to COVID-19 exposure. The TTC needs to do the right thing and provide 100% of pay to unionized employees who have endured so much by working through a global pandemic for nearly a year,” said ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos

City News: TTC employees raise alarm bells about COVID-19 protocols

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

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 has made it clear to the TTC that racism or intolerance of any kind has no place in our workplaces. We will continue to hold the TTC accountable and ensure real steps are taken to fight racism and create a healthy and safe workplace for all.

CityNews: TTC investigating removal of Black History Month display

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