Author: Stephanie Gomez

Sisters and Brothers,

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

I spoke with the member today who is doing well and recovering at home. I wished them a full and swift recovery on behalf of all ATU Local 113 members.

The member’s last shift was on Friday, May 8 from approximately 5:40 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. The member developed symptoms after their shift and received the positive test result on Thursday, May 14.

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

This member’s diagnosis marks the 35th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Eight 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 43.

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

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Sisters and Brothers,

We received the unfortunate news today that an ATU Local 113 member, a Wheel-Trans Operator, has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

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

The member’s last shift was on Thursday, May 7, from 3:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The member did not develop symptoms but received a test on Monday, May 11 because a family member had tested positive. The member received a positive test result on Wednesday, May 13.

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

This diagnosis marks the 34th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Eight 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 42.

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, TTCriders, ATU Canada and over 50 other organizations across Canada are calling on the federal government to provide public transit agencies with emergency and permanent operating funding.

The full letter can be read below. Please click here to learn more.

On May 13 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., ATU Local 113 member Ed Cunningham will participate in an online panel with other frontline workers to discuss their experiences working during the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic is a historic moment, and workers are being seen with a new reverence and respect. We want to make sure we capture our members’ stories, to make sure no one forgets the sacrifices they are making. A big thanks to the Toronto Labour Council and the Broadbent Institute for organizing the panel.

ATU Local 113 members and others that are interested can find more information and sign up here: https://www.labourcouncil.ca/voices_from_the_frontlines_public_services

An overwhelming majority of Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents believe that the Federal Government should provide $5 billion in emergency funding to public transit agencies. A survey conducted by Probe Research found that 82% of people in the GTA strongly support or somewhat support federal funding of public transit operations.

See below for the full results of the survey.

Sisters and Brothers,

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

We wish the member, who is recovering at home, a quick and full recovery.

The member’s last shift was on Friday, April 24. The member developed symptoms on Tuesday, April 28 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, May 8.

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

This member’s diagnosis marks the 33^rd ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Eight 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 41.

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

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

A team of researchers from the University of Toronto are working to support public transit for Torontonians during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

ATU Local 113 invites those who rode the TTC more than once a week before the COVID-19 pandemic to take the survey. It takes about 15 minutes and participants can enter a raffle for one of 30 $50 gift cards.

Please follow the link to this Survey:

https://tinyurl.com/COVIDTransitSurvey

All responses will remain strictly confidential and anonymous.

ATU Local 113 is pleased to share the following letter from a local student in Grade 8 thanking our members for their hard work and service during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are extremely proud to serve the citizens of Toronto. Whether it’s moving essential workers or getting children to school, we love serving our communities. It’s for bright young students like the one who wrote this letter that we do it for.

Dear Transit Operators of ATU Local 113,

During these difficult and unprecedented times I would personally like to thank every one of you for your service to Toronto.

As a once daily use of this vast transit network I can understand the challenges you are going through. Even before this pandemic started I noticed how rough it was for some drivers. Whether it was driving in a bus that was past the state of good repair, or even having to deal with nonsense from unruly customers.

After hearing of an outbreak at Queensway Division, and the layoff of 1,200 TTC employees, I felt compelled to write to the men and women behind Local 113.

Sure, transit operators may not be doing as much to save lives, but they are for sure under recognized and underappreciated. If you think about it, transit operators are basically what makes Toronto move. Without you, how would doctors get to hospitals? And who would transport patients with the 7 new EMS buses?

It is my personal belief that though 2020 has brought on hardship and sorrow, we citizens of Toronto must do our part to stop the curve and stay home. So front line workers and ATU Local 113 can keep serving Toroonto, as they have for 119 years. Let’s hope there’s a 120th.

Glowing Regards,

A Grade 8 Student at Thomas Wells Public School

The Trudeau government announced today that it would topping up payments for well-deserved low-income essential workers, such as those working in long-term care homes, retirement homes, emergency shelters, supportive housing, and other important services. ATU Local 113 cannot thank these workers enough for their service. They along with other frontline workers are heroes.

These essential workers deserve the pay increase, but we can’t forget about public transit workers who are also on the frontlines of this crisis. The federal and provincial governments must provide emergency funding so ATU Local 113 members can continue providing reliable service to the same workers the government is helping with these payments.

CBC: Ottawa, provinces and territories reach $4B deal to boost essential workers’ pay