Author: Stephanie Gomez

The Ontario government today announced an expanded list of essential workers who will be entitled to free emergency childcare services – and public transit workers are excluded once again.

The workers on the expanded list are certainly deserving of  emergency childcare and ATU Local 113 thanks them for their service during the pandemic. However, the Ontario government must start recognizing the critical service public transit workers are doing for Toronto. Instead of receiving pandemic pay or emergency childcare services, 1,000 of ATU Local 113 members are facing pink slips.

Public transit workers deserve more respect as they put themselves and their loved ones at risk by providing an essential service during the pandemic. Emergency government funding is needed now to support public transit workers.

Ontario News Release: More Frontline Workers Eligible for Emergency Child Care

ATU Local 113 would like to thank Councillor Frances Nunziata for her support of Toronto’s transit workers. It’s great to know we have support at the municipal level but we now need action from the federal and provincial governments.

ATU Local 113 is reiterating its call for the federal and Ontario governments to provide emergency financial support to prevent layoffs and keep the TTC’s buses, streetcars, Wheel-trans vehicles and subways running.

Toronto’s 12,000 public transit workers are calling on the federal and Ontario governments to provide emergency financial support to prevent layoffs and keep the TTC’s buses, streetcars, Wheel-trans vehicles and subways running. The call for emergency public transit funding was laid out in letters sent today from Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor John Tory.

Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Letter to Premier Doug Ford

Letter to Mayor John Tory

Sisters and Brothers,

We received news today that a TTC Subway operator from the Danforth Division has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The member’s last shift was on Thursday, April 9. The member was tested on Saturday, April 18 and received the positive test on Friday, April 24.

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

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

This member’s diagnosis marks the 25^th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Four 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 29.

Please practice social 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

Yesterday, ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos provided members with an update on the TTC’s layoffs announcement. Make no mistake – he’s taking this fight to all levels of government to ensure the TTC gets the emergency funding it needs to maintain service levels to prevent these layoffs.

President Santos is also encouraging members to join ATU Local 113’s general meeting on Sunday April 26 at 10 a.m. to discuss this and other matters. Members can register with their badge number and email here.

Sisters and Brothers,

We received news today that a TTC carhouse operator working out of McCowan Yard has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The member’s last shift was on March 18. Due to health complications, the member was only tested on April 20 and received the positive test result on April 23.

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

This latest confirmed case marks the 24^th ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Four TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive bringing the total number of COVID-19 positive TTC employees to 28.

Please practice social 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 learned today that another ATU Local 113 member from the TTC Queensway Garage has unfortunately tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This marks the sixth ATU Local 113 member to test positive at Queensway.

The member, a coach technician, last worked on Monday, April 20 from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and received the positive test results on Thursday, April 23.

Following ATU Local 113’s reasonable demands for decisive action to stop a potential outbreak at Queensway Garage from becoming a lethal cluster and spreading any further, the TTC has asked all maintenance members at Queensway that had shifts from April 12 to April 22 to self isolate and monitor for symptoms until May 1.

Toronto’s public transit workers are among the heroes of this crisis, getting essential workers to hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores and other critical workplaces. I am calling on the TTC, Dr. Eileen De Villa and Toronto Public Health to step up and do more to protect TTC workers’ health during this pandemic.

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

This latest confirmed case marks the 23^rd ATU Local 113 member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Four TTC employees who are not ATU Local 113 members have also tested positive bringing the total number of COVID-19 positive TTC employees to 27.

Please practice social 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