Author: Stephanie Gomez

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The second round of layoffs scheduled for June have been paused pending the voluntary lay-off and a ridership review. Further updates to follow.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Sisters and Brothers,

We received unfortunate news today that an ATU Local 113 member, a bus operator from Arrow Road Division, has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

I spoke with the member who is recovering at home. We all wish them a full and quick recovery.

The member’s last shift was on Wednesday, May 27 from approximately 9:00 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. The member was tested on Friday, May 29 and received the positive test result on Saturday, May 30.

This diagnosis marks the 47^th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Ten TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive, bringing the total number of TTC employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 57.

Please practice physical distancing as much as possible before, during and after your shifts – and stay home if feel unwell.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

ATU Local 113 would like to share important information with members about the TTC’s Temporary Lay-Off Substitution (TLOS) initiative.

The initiative is a program to reduce the impact of planned lay-offs by allowing members to take a temporary lay-off. This initiative is open to all active, permanent, full-time employees at the TTC subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria.

Each member who chooses to participate in the temporary lay-off initiative means one less member being laid off. With that said, ATU Local 113 is not encouraging nor discouraging members from participating. Our union is large with a diversity of needs and personal circumstances. A member may have their own reasons as to why they would want to participate in the program or not.

ATU Local 113 will respect and support each member’s own decision.

While participating in the initiative, members will need to pay union dues to keep seniority. Participating in the initiative will have pension implications. We recommend you call the pension office to see how participation might impact you.

Please see below for the TTC’s full program guide.

– President Carlos Santos

Sisters and Brothers,

We received unfortunate news today that an ATU Local 113 member, a bus operator from Eglinton Division, has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

I spoke with the member who is recovering at home. We all wish them a full and quick recovery.

The member’s last shift was on Friday, May 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The member received the positive test result on Saturday, May 30.

Please contact your shop steward or board member for more information.

This diagnosis marks the 46^th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Ten TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive, bringing the total number of TTC employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 56.

Please practice physical distancing as much as possible before, during and after your shifts – and stay home if feel unwell.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Sisters and Brothers,

I have an important update to share about a recent job hiring the TTC reversed. As many of you know, the TTC posted a notice this week announcing that they were hiring 100 supervisors.

I was absolutely outraged that the TTC planned to hire 100 non-unionized supervisors while the TTC is laying off a 1,000 of our dedicated and hard-working members who have been serving Toronto through this pandemic.

After strong and consistent pressure from myself and ATU Local 113’s executive board, the TTC has reversed this hiring of supervisors and will now be hiring 100 unionized temporary COVID-19 Recovery Ambassadors.

Members should know that I fully support this decision by TTC management to walk back their original hiring plan. I will never stop fighting to protect our members’ jobs, health and safety. ATU Local 113 will also continue its fight to get the proper government funding to keep public transit moving during the pandemic and throughout our economic recovery.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

On April 23, 2020, the TTC announced temporary layoffs of TTC employees due to sharply reduced ridership and revenue resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic. ATU Local 113 members have begun receiving layoff notices, the first round of which came into effect on Sunday, May 24.

ATU Local 113 members are justly concerned about their income during the layoff period. The following guide will explain what government benefits are available, how to apply, how much they will pay and how long they will last.

WHAT GOVERNMENT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE TO LAID OFF EMPLOYEES?

There is a new Federal benefit for workers affected by COVID 19. On March 25, the Government of Canada announced the Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). CERB provides temporary income support to workers whose income has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

In order to be eligible, a worker must have lost their income due to COVID-19, or can not earn an income because they are sick or quarantined. Also eligible are workers who are have recently exhausted their Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, those caring for someone with COVID-19, or those who have had to stop working in order to care for children who are either sick, or home from school and daycare.

There are only a few other qualifications:

• You must have earned a total income from employment or self-employment of at least $5,000 for 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which you make an application.
• You may not earn more than $1,000 for a period of at least 14 consecutive days within the initial four-week period of your claim or $1000 in total during the four week period covered by each subsequent claim.
• You must not have quit your job voluntarily (though voluntary layoffs or furloughs may qualify).

HOW SHOULD I APPLY?

You can apply for CERB online either through Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency.

To begin the application process, you will be asked to answer a few simple questions. The answers you provide will help direct you to the service option that best fits your situation.

If you cannot apply online, you can apply by phone at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY?

Applications are for a specific four-week eligibility period. If your situation continues, you can re-apply for another 4-week period, up to a maximum of 4 periods (or 16 weeks in total).

Whether you apply online or by phone, the CRA has set up specific days when you can apply:

HOW MUCH WILL I RECEIVE?

The CERB provides $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. No tax will be deducted at source, but the money will be taxable when you submit your return for 2020.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE PAYMENT?

There is no waiting period so you should receive your Benefit within 10 days of applying.

Payments will be made through direct deposit or by cheque; however direct deposit is faster.

Your payments will be retroactive to the date you became eligible.

SHOULD I APPLY FOR EI or CERB?

The Canadian government has designed the CERB to work with EI, though you cannot receive them both at the same time.

As soon as you stop work, you should apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Those who have been laid off since March 15 can no longer apply for EI, though you can receive EI benefits once the CERB program ends.

If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits prior to March 15th, you will continue to receive these benefits until the end of your benefit period. You cannot switch to CERB.

If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits on March 15, 2020 or later, your Employment Insurance claim will be automatically processed through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

For other Employment Insurance benefits, including maternity, parental, and caregiving, you should continue to apply as you normally would.

Sisters and Brothers,

We received unfortunate news today that an ATU Local 113 member, a collector from the Danforth Division, has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

I spoke with the member who is recovering at home. We all wish them a full and quick recovery.

The member’s last shift was on Monday, May 25 from 5:45 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The member received the positive test result on Thursday, May 28.

Please contact your shop steward or board member for more information.

This diagnosis marks the 45^th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Ten TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive, bringing the total number of TTC employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 55.

Please practice physical distancing as much as possible before, during and after your shifts – and stay home if feel unwell.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos is encouraging all Torontonians to read this compelling first-hand account in View the Vibe that details the struggles our members – including operators, maintenance workers and support staff – are facing as they work day and night to keep this city moving.

“We continue to do our job, knowing that other front-line workers like those in health care and many more, rely on us to get to their jobs.”

Quarantine Chronicles: Concerned TTC Operator Speaks Up Pleading for Your Support

Please read and share if you care about public transit in Toronto.

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The member also rightfully speaks out about the many uphill battles ATU Local 113 has faced since the COVID-19 pandemic started. We fought for the right to wear basic protective equipment and are now fighting to stop TTC service cuts and job losses. These cuts will have consequences, especially for those essential, low-income workers who depend on the TTC every day to get to work at hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores and pharmacies. The only way to stop this is for our government to step up and provide emergency financial support.

Frustrated about these service cuts too? Make your voice heard by signing ATU Canada’s petition to demand federal government funding for transit.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today, I am urging you to sign the Canadian Labour Congress’ petition calling on the federal and provincial governments to provide emergency funding to municipalities.

Without financial help, cities will impose additional cuts for vital services like transit which our essential workers and most vulnerable populations rely on every single day.

The TTC has already laid off some of our Sisters and Brothers and reduced service in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic – even after we’ve put our health and the health of our loved ones at risk by working on the frontlines.

Without immediate support from higher levels of government, Toronto’s transit system will be crippled, putting both the economic recovery and public health of our city at risk.

This is no time for deliberation and debate – transit and other vital local services need action now!

Sign the Canadian Labour Congress’ petition on their website here: https://canadianlabour.ca/campaigns/cities-need-help/

In Solidarity,

Carlos Santos

President, ATU Local 113