ATU Local 113

A Big Win for Transit Workers: Toronto City Council Pledges to Keep Transit Public

May 24, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

The Keep Transit Public campaign gained momentum with a big win at Toronto City Council.

The campaign, supported by ATU Local 113, ATU Canada, and ATU International–was successful in having Toronto City Council pass a motion today that ensures transit in the municipality remains public and continues to be operated and maintained by the Toronto Transit Commission.

The motion, tabled by Councillor Joe Mihevc and seconded by Councillor Mike Layton, recommends that:

City Council advise Metrolinx of its commitment to ensure that transit within the City of Toronto remains under public ownership through the Toronto Transit Commission.
City Council advise Metrolinx that the Toronto Transit Commission should operate the Eglinton Crosstown LRT indefinitely and endeavour to ensure that maintenance of the Eglinton Crosstown be returned to the Toronto Transit Commission.
City Council advise Metrolinx that the Toronto Transit Commission should operate and maintain the forthcoming Finch LRT line.
City Council advise Metrolinx that the City of Toronto should continue to own, operate and maintain the Toronto subway system and that transit within the City of Toronto should not be uploaded or otherwise transferred, in whole or in part, to the Province of Ontario.

“After years of creeping privatization by the province and Metrolinx, Toronto City Council said no to privatization and yes to keeping transit public,” said John Di Nino, Executive Board Member of ATU Local 113 and lead of the Keep Transit Public campaign. “We call on Metrolinx to act on the direction of Toronto’s elected representatives who want all transit operations and maintenance to remain in public hands.”

A special thank you to Councillor Joe Mihevc and Councillor Mike Layton for their leadership in keeping Toronto’s transit in Toronto’s hands.

This adopted motion by Toronto City Council, which passed 30-6, is especially important with the upcoming Ontario provincial election on June 7.

“The Ontario Liberals and Ontario PC’s both prefer to line the pockets of big, multinational companies through privatization instead of investing more money into public transit,” said John Di Nino. “Through our work with the Keep Transit Public campaign, we are happy to see Toronto City Council taking a strong stand against Metrolinx’s privatization scheme that will only cost taxpayers more money while reducing service.”

Toronto city councillors who support keeping transit public:

Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 43)
Councillor Maria Augimeri (Ward 9)
Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18)
Councillor John Campbell (Ward 4)
Councillor Josh Colle (Ward 15)
Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 36)
Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 20)
Councillor Janet Davis (Ward 31)
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38)
Councillor Justin Di Ciano (Ward 5)
Councillor Frank Di Giorgio (Ward 12)
Councillor Sarah Doucette (Ward 13)
Councillor John Filion (Ward 23)
Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30)
Councillor Mark Grimes (Ward 6)
Councillor Jim Hart (Ward 44)
Councillor Michelle Holland (Ward 35)
Councillor Jim Karygiannis (Ward 39)
Councillor Norm Kelly (Ward 40)
Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19)
Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21)
Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 11)
Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10)
Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 14)
Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Ward 8)
Councillor Neethan Shan (Ward 42)
Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37)
Councillor Lucy Troisi (Ward 28)
Councillor Jonathan Tsao (Ward 33)
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 27)

Toronto city councillors who oppose keeping transit public:

Councillor Jon Burnside (Ward 26)
Councillor Christin Carmichael Greb (Ward 16)
Councillor Michael Ford (Ward 2)
Councillor Stephen Holyday (Ward 3)
Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25)
Councillor David Shiner (Ward 24)

Toronto city councillors not present for vote:

Mayor John Tory
Councillor Vincent Crisanti (Ward 1)
Councillor Mary Fragedakis (Ward 29)
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7)
Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22)
Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon (Ward 32)
Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34)
Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17)

NDP Candidate Gurratan Singh Pledges His Support to Keep Transit Public

May 23, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

At the office of NDP candidate Gurratan Singh for Brampton East, our very own ATU Local 113 Board Members Marvin Alfred and Anthony Wallace mobilizes support to Keep Transit Public. Also pictured are Arrow Road members Kiran Sidhu, Sunil Batta, Ravin Walia, Ranjit Sandhu (Retiree), Sukhi Sanga, Kamaljit Kaur, Harmesh Singh, and Jashan Bhullar.

Gurratan Singh joins many other NDP candidates who have signed the pledge to Keep Transit Public. See the full list of supporters here.

Keep Transit Public Candidate Pledges

May 18, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

There is a lot at stake with the Ontario election: The Liberals and Ontario PC’s appear to favour contracting out and privatization, which threatens our job security and the transit system we have been proud to operate and maintain for 119 years. ATU Local 113 is clear: privatizing our public goods means profit for private companies on the backs of taxpayers while projects take longer to complete, cost more and deliver less for the public.

In support of the Keep Transit Public campaign, our Sisters and Brothers have gone riding-by-riding asking candidates to sign a pledge to Keep Transit Public should they be elected to office.

The pledge asks candidates of all parties to commit to:

Provide support and advocate that the TTC will operate and maintain all existing and future LRT, subway, bus, WheelTrans, streetcar, SRT and related services with a view to returning services to the TTC where they have been contracted out.
Support existing and future transit development that is publicly funded, owned, operated and maintained by the TTC.
Reject utilizing the P3 (Public Private Partnerships) model for future transit development in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Reject the “contracting-out” of public transit services.
Reject the provincial uploading of transit assets.

You can find the most updated list of candidates who signed the pledge below. There is too much at stake this election to wait and see. Make sure to vote for public transit on June 7. Find out where you vote here.

It’s Clear: the TTC Doesn’t Understand the Seriousness of Animal Contaminants in Oral Swabs

May 15, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

After almost a month of stalling, the TTC confirmed that it forced our Sisters and Brothers to consume animal products despite religious and/or ethical objections. It is now time for the TTC to understand the seriousness of this issue – one created by the Commission alone – by acting forthright about what accommodation will look like and how they’ll address the thousands who have already taken the test.

ATU Local 113 asks the TTC a simple request as part of their efforts to right their wrong: advise our members that those who self-identify as requiring accommodation will not be required to consume animal products and that they will not be removed from their work, suspended, sent home or reprised against in any manner what-so-ever.

It is time the TTC takes responsibility and provide Toronto’s 11,000 transit workers an answer by the end of the day.

Click here to read our response to the TTC below.

In Solidarity at the Keep Transit Public Rally

May 10, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 will fight to keep transit out of the hands of the private sector – wherever and whenever we see it happen. That’s why our members joined together with hundreds of Ontarians at Queen’s Park for the Keep Transit Public rally. Transit workers, advocates and riders all had one message for Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne and Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford: we won’t standby as you try to upload the TTC subway and put it on the fast track to privatization.

With an imminent election, keeping transit public must be a priority for all candidates and parties. We were proud to see New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath show her support for our campaign, emphasizing the value of public transit to the everyday lives of Torontonians. Like Ms. Horwath, we think it’s important to make transit available to everyone no matter where you live or how much you earn – that means keeping it public.

Our very own ATU Local 113 member, Richard Freitas, also spoke at the rally alongside ATU Canada president Paul Thorp. Richard reminded us all what happens when private companies get involved in our public transit systems. We won’t let the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives forget that private contractors cost more, deliver less, cut corners and take longer to get projects done.

Watch a video of the event here.

Let’s keep transit accountable to the people who use it – let’s keep it public. Learn more about the Keep Transit Public campaign and get involved: http://www.keeptransitpublic.ca/

ATU Local 113 Warns of Service Delays due to TTC’s Failure to Hire

May 2, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 is warning the public about potential service delays due to the Toronto Transit Commission’s failure to hire more workers.

The TTC has been operating with as high as 12 per cent of maintenance positions left unfilled. ATU Local 113 and its members are concerned the TTC has left these positions unfilled and are relying on overtime to make it easier to bring more privatization to Toronto’s public transit system.

Given these concerns over the TTC’s failure to hire, ATU Local 113 decided not to extend its agreement with the TTC to allow members to work as many as 64 hours per week. This decision came into effect April 30, 2018.

“With fewer workers on the job, we are warning riders of potential service impacts,” said Frank Grimaldi, ATU Local 113 President. “The city is in this position today because for far too long, the TTC neglected to hire enough workers to properly run our public transit system. ATU Local 113 is committed to the continuity of service while the TTC hires more public transit workers to ensure safe and reliable operations.”

Bringing the Keep Transit Public campaign to the NDP Campaign Launch

April 30, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

Ontario’s New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath launched her campaign to be Premier on Sunday from Hamilton. ATU Local 113 Executive Board Member John Di Nino attended the launch event – meeting after with Ms. Horwath to promote the Keep Transit Public campaign. Following a discussion about the importance of stopping the privatization of our public transit, she gave us a big thumbs up! With the provincial election approaching, it is important we are engaged with all parties trying to form government. Learn more about the Keep Transit Public campaign and get involved: https://www.keeptransitpublic.ca/#ktp-background

GO Transit union delivers fair tentative agreement – Why can’t the TTC do the same for us?

April 28, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

While the TTC has walked away from the negotiating table, ATU Local 113 has been – and remains – willing to negotiate a fair contract.

TTC management is taking unconventional and inappropriate steps to force us to retreat from our position.

The TTC will never intimidate us. The TTC will never weaken us. And the TTC will never divide us.

ATU Local 113 is strong. We are united. And we will get the fair contract you deserve.

We stand in solidarity with ATU Local 1587, which delivered today a fair and concrete tentative agreement for its members who work with GO Transit.

The agreement includes no concessions, no reductions to contracting out provisions, wage increases every year and benefit improvements. You can read the full tentative agreement in the attachment below.

Why won’t the TTC negotiate the same for us?

Your union will continue to fight for what you deserve – a fair and equitable contract.

The TTC is spreading false information about our union’s decision to end the excess overtime agreement. This decision has nothing to do with contract negotiations.

The TTC is attacking our union and your legal rights – and we’re not going to stand for it. We are going to defend ourselves and fight back.

We’re not going to take it – and neither should you!

ATU Local 113: United Together for a Healthier and Safer Workplace

April 24, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

On April 28th, ATU Local 113 pays respects, remembers and honours those who have been killed, injured or suffered illness as a result of work-related incidents. We also stand united and renew our commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.

Watch the presentation commemorating the National Day of Mourning at our April union meeting and later, read our official recognition of the day in a letter from ATU Local 113 Health and Safety Representative Andrew Falotico:

Day of Mourning Letter

ATU Local 113 and Leafs Alumni Score Big for Multiple Sclerosis Research

April 18, 2018 by Stephanie Gomez

The ATU Local 113 All-Stars faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni team in a game full of good fun in support of a good cause. The annual charity game held at Ted Reeve Community Arena on March 10, 2018 was in support of Multiple Sclerosis research.

ATU Local 113 has supported Mount Sinai Hospital and its Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute for nearly a quarter of a century. Through member contributions, additional fundraising efforts and proceeds from the game, ATU Local 113 presented a cheque for $30,000. This adds to the over $1 million dollar donated by ATU Local 113 to date.

Join us next year as we hit the ice again for a good cause!