The TTC is losing $73.5 million a year on fare evasion, money that is taken directly out of our public transit system. Listen to Carlos Santos, ATU Local 113 President, on Global News Radio 640 Toronto speak about the need to keep ATU Local 113 collectors in subway stations to help stop fare evasion, especially with the failed Presto system.
ATU Local 113 Stands with Teachers to Protect Students from the Ford Government’s Education Cuts
As Ontario’s teachers stand up to the Ford Government’s proposed cuts to education, ATU Local 113, representing Toronto’s nearly 12,000 public transit workers, joins them to protect students and defend Ontario’s publicly funded education system.
Our Sisters and Brothers from Ontario’s teachers’ unions have been in intense contract negotiations and many have now been forced to take job action by striking across the province.
Public education matters to ATU Local 113 members. Our children and grandchildren are missing school and extracurriculars due to the strikes. Ontario students, including those in special education, will be hurt by the proposed cuts to school budgets.
Teachers stood with ATU Local 113 to protect Toronto’s public transit system from the Ford Government’s reckless TTC Subway upload that would’ve put it on the slippery slope to privatization. Now we need to show our solidarity with teachers to protect students and defend quality, well-funded public education.
Members are encouraged to share the below image on Facebook and Twitter. Please visit here to learn more about Ontario’s fight for education.
Thank you for your support!
WATCH: ATU Local 113 on OMNI TV’s Focus Portuguese
President Carlos Santos recently shared some of ATU Local 113’s 2020 priorities to improve the TTC with Sergio Mourata of OMNI TV’s Focus Portuguese. Focus Portuguese is a program that focuses on local issues from the unique perspective of the Portuguese-speaking community.
Through working together, our members have secured real change – but the fight continues for fair funding and a healthier, safer, more affordable and equitable Toronto public transit system.
- Keeping Transit Public: President Santos stressed how the PC Government’s disastrous subway upload scheme would have been the first step to privatizing the TTC Subway. ATU Local 113 is clear: Toronto’s public transit should remain owned by Torontonians and operated and maintained by the ATU Local 113’s skilled workers trusted with the work for over 100 years.
- Clean Air: President Santos raised ATU Local 113’s ongoing concerns that the TTC is not prioritizing employee health and safety. While the TTC tries to paint a rosy picture of the subway air quality, the fact is employees should never be exposed to PM 2.5 contamination.
- Integrated System: The TTC’s maintenance workers’ great work was recognized on Focus Portuguese. President Santos emphasized the importance of all future transit projects utilizing an integrated workforce to ensure the most skilled and qualified workers continue maintaining Toronto’s public transit system.
- Subway Safety: While the TTC implements an Automatic Train Control system on the Yonge-University line, President Santos communicated the importance of a signal guard and the safety it guarantees.
https://www.facebook.com/FocusPortuguese/videos/817108052086004/
WATCH: Recognizing the Crucial Work of Skilled TTC Maintenance Workers
ATU Local 113 is encouraging Torontonians to watch this informative video from a few years ago about the important work streetcar maintenance workers do to keep our city moving.
Toronto developed its foundation on a strong streetcar network. The red TTC streetcar is an icon of the city and it would not have run for over four decades if it were not for the skilled members of ATU Local 113’s maintenance team.
As member Al Demelo points out in the video, private contractors do whatever they can to make more money. When the TTC’s Hillcrest Complex uses private contractors for the maintenance of certain parts, they never meet ATU Local 113’s high standards of quality. Quality and public safety are always the utmost priorities for our members. “We can’t compromise safety for profit,” said ATU Local 113 member Rovel Dunn.
Several years later from when it was produced, the video is yet another reminder on how important it is to ensure all future transit projects are operated and maintained by a unified TTC workforce that has been trusted and qualified to do maintenance work safely for over 100 years.
Many thanks to all of ATU Local 113’s maintenance members for the crucial work you do to keep public transit running safely!
ATU Local 113 Supports Yonge Street Mission Toy Drive
The ATU Local 113 Women’s Committee and Executive Board Members joined Brother Claude Willis from Arrow Road Division for the Holiday Toy Drive on December 8, 2019. We provided three families from the Yonge Street Mission with a holiday that they deserve.
Thank you to the Sisters and Brothers of ATU Local 113 who have supported our 50/50 draws. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to give families a Christmas to remember this year, and provide backpacks and school supplies to children in need.
We’d also like to extend our congratulations and thanks to our last 50/50 draw winner, Wilson operator Yen Yuan Lin, badge #80918.
ATU Local 113 stands with Toronto and York Region Labour Council to fight climate change
Having a properly funded public transit system is a key component of developing sustainable communities and fighting climate change. Failing to act now just means that we’ll end up paying more later – and the stakes are too high for us to pass the buck to the next generation.
That’s why ATU Local 113 members, like Grace Udoh who is featured in the following post, are proud to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the Toronto and York Region Labour Council who are fighting to build a green future for our city. Read more about their campaign and what you can do to help here.
ATU Local 113 in the Community: Christopher Jones
A highlight of summer in Toronto is the diverse community events across the city. Accessible by streetcars, subways, wheel-trans and buses, they offer families the opportunity to reconnect with those closest to them – all while having fun! Christopher Jones, an Operator at Malvern Division, is dedicated to finding opportunities to help others and community events became one of his ways to offer a lending hand. With the support of ATU Local 113 and its Sisters and Brothers, Christopher has brought bouncy castles, floats and other fun and important additions to events across the city – for the benefit of all.
“I believe that a community is made up of people getting involved. You do not have to be a part of the community to help. I give back on behalf of ATU 113 to the community we serve,” Chris explains.
Christopher Jones in-front of ATU Local 113’s bouncy castle at Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza
And a busy summer getting involved he’s had. Already, he has supported the Pinoy Fiesta & Trade Show and Vaughan Fiesta Extravaganza. Next is the Toronto Caribbean Carnival where he’ll lead a float of Sisters and Brothers.
Supporting community events is just part of what Christopher does in his spare time. He’s served on ATU Local 113’s Rec Committee and United Way team, while currently involved with the Willowdale Rotary Association and Knights of Rizal.
Thank you to Christopher for all your hard work!
#TTCpride: ATU Local 113 Marches in Rainbows to Celebrate Achievements, Continue Fight for Equality
Building on longstanding traditions, ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers marched proudly in Toronto’s 38th annual Pride Parade. While June is designated Pride month, the Local will always stands in solidarity in the fight for equal rights. The Parade offers the opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ+ community achievements while recommitting to their full inclusion in society – under the law and in our culture.
Group photo at Rosedale Valley Road in front of the fabulous TTC Pride bus.
Despite a heavy downpour, ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers marched alongside the TTC Pride bus: dancing, waving flags and laughing. The parade route on Yonge Street from Church and Bloor to Yonge and Dundas Square was a sea of colour representing a message of unity and peace.
Grace Udoh dances excitedly through the streets of Toronto while wearing her custom ATU Local 113 rainbow t-shirt.
Matthew Ennamorato and Richard Freitas wave the ATU Local 113 flag high in the sky on Bloor Street.
Matthew Ennamorato, Emily Daigle, Richard Freitas, Kathleen Zamora, Grace Udoh, Trey Zamora and Deborah Littman amongst other ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers.
Thank you to all ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers who participated in the Parade. To get your hands on the rainbow ATU Local 113 t-shirt or to be notified about details for the march next year, please contact dlittman@atu113.net.
Watch: Friends Reconnect, Reminisce and Share why ATU Local 113 is More Important than Ever at the 2018 Pensioners’ Party
In May, hundreds of Sisters and Brothers gathered for the annual ATU Local 113 Pensioners’ Party. This highly anticipated gathering provided ATU Local 113 pensioners the opportunity to reconnect with their old friends and reminisce on all the accomplishments they achieved when they stood together as part of ATU Local 113.
Amidst great food, music and conversation, ATU Local 113 Pensioners and current Executive Board members shared tips and insights for current union members. Hear it directly from attendees of the 2018 Pensioners’ Party – and make sure to join us next year:
It’s Clear: the TTC Doesn’t Understand the Seriousness of Animal Contaminants in Oral Swabs
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.