Author: Stephanie Gomez

Sisters and Brothers,

To protect your health and help limit community spread of the coronavirus, ATU Local 113 is advising TTC bus operators to limit the number of passengers to 10 riders on a regular bus and 15 riders on an articulated bus.

ATU Local 113’s recommendation comes after ongoing overcrowding on some TTC bus routes, which goes against the guidelines coming from public health officials and political leaders.

We apologize for any inconvenience to the public. However, limiting the number of passengers on TTC buses will help ensure riders are practicing physical distancing by staying two metres away from each other. In addition to these pandemic limits, TTC bus operators should continue with rear-door boarding. You also have the option to wear face masks on the job.

While the TTC has added buses to some busy routes, we think TTC management should be doing more to enforce physical distancing on the TTC. For this reason, we are asking members to use their discretion by enforcing these passenger limits during the pandemic.

ATU Local 113’s advisory for passenger limits on TTC buses comes after Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned:

“The hard truth is right now, today, there is very little separating what we will face here in Ontario from the devastation we’ve seen in Italy and Spain – thousands of lives are at stake. These next two weeks will be absolutely critical because we know a surge is coming.”

ATU Local 113 takes the Premier’s warning seriously and is doing what we can to protect members and the public.

It is important to know public transit is NOT exempt from physical distancing regulations. If you encounter any issues enforcing physical distancing on the job, ATU Local 113 will back you 100%. Please contact your shop steward or board member.

With the coronavirus pandemic, we are providing a critical public service. We’re getting health care workers to hospitals, clerks to grocery stores and first responders to stations. We’re also on the frontlines. There is no doubt, public transit workers are among the heroes of this crisis. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Sisters and Brothers,

We received more unfortunate news today that a TTC Subway collector from the Danforth Division has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). I spoke with him this evening and he’s recovering at home. Like with the five other members dealing with the virus, we wish him a full recovery and we’ll provide any needed support.

Here is what we know as of March 31 at 9:30 p.m.:

• TTC Subway fare collector from Danforth Division.
• He last worked on Thursday, March 19 and hasn’t been back to work since.
• On March 19, he closed Jane Station at 2:20 a.m. and wore a face mask on the TTC Bloor night bus coming back to Greenwood.
• He was tested on Monday, March 30 and received the positive diagnosis on the evening of Tuesday, March 31.
• At this time, it’s unknown how he contracted the coronavirus – no recent travel or known contact with anyone who has travelled.

As with other confirmed cases, ATU Local 113 is working with the TTC and Toronto Public Health to determine next steps to protect your health.

As you’ve heard before, please stay home if you feel unwell. ATU Local 113 is here to support you. Please contact your shop steward or board member if you have any questions about this case, or concerns about workplace health and safety.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Sisters and Brothers,

We received unfortunate news today from one of our ATU Local 113 members, a TTC bus operator from the Mount Dennis garage. Our member, who spoke today with his shop steward and board member, is in the hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Our thoughts are with the member and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.

The member hasn’t been on the job since Saturday, March 14.

The case is still under investigation. We’ll continue our work to ensure the TTC and Toronto Public Health respond appropriately to protect members at Mount Dennis and across the system. We’ll keep you updated.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your shop steward or board member.

As we continue to serve Toronto during this challenging time, please stay home if you feel unwell. Medical notes are not required up to and including Saturday, April 4 (with further extensions pending).

Again, our thoughts are with our member and we’re all hoping to see him healthy again soon.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

Given the current coronavirus pandemic, ATU Local 113 members are not required to provide medical notes to the TTC for sick days up to and including Saturday, April 4, 2020.

ATU Local 113 will provide an update later this week on potential further extensions.

ATU Local 113 has learned on March 27 that a Wheel-Trans operator has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) due to international travel. ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers wish the member a full and speedy recovery.

Here is what we know as of now:

• The Wheel-Trans operator, who works at the Lakeshore Wheel-Trans division, has not worked a shift since March 12 and has been in self isolation since then.
• The operator received the positive test for COVID-19 on March 21.

Toronto Public Health has assured ATU Local 113 that since the member has not been at work for over two weeks, the risk to other members remains low; however, ATU Local 113 wanted to notify them of as soon as possible. Our union continues to work with the TTC and Toronto Public Health on this case.

As we provide a critical service for our city during this pandemic, including for health care workers, ATU Local 113 continues to push the TTC and Toronto Public Health to do whatever is necessary to ensure a safe and healthy environment for TTC workers and riders. ATU Local 113 is encouraging members to practice social distancing as much as possible before, during and after their shifts.

If you feel unwell, please stay home. And if you have any questions or safety concerns, please speak with your shop steward or ATU Local 113 board member.

ATU Local 113 has learned on March 24 that a TTC Subway operator has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos has spoken with the member today and they are doing well. All ATU Local 113 Sisters and Brothers wish the member a speedy recovery.

While the case is still under investigation, ATU Local 113 wanted to update members as soon as possible. Our union continues to work with the TTC and Toronto Public Health on this case – we’ll provide you with more details on actions being taken, once available.

Here is what we know as of now:

• The TTC Subway operator, who works at the Wilson division, received the positive test for COVID-19 today – Tuesday, March 24.
• The TTC Subway operator has NOT been at work since the morning of Monday, March 16.
• On Monday, March 16, the member left work shortly after their shift began at 5:30 p.m. because they felt unwell. Again, the member has been home since that time.
• ATU Local 113 is working with the TTC and Toronto Public Health to determine next steps/actions to further protect the health of workers and riders. More details to come.

We understand this is a very challenging time for all – and many of you are worried about health protection. ATU Local 113 has demanded and secured new health protections for members, including the choice to wear face masks; rear-door boarding on TTC buses; no cash, ticket or token payments on TTC buses for added social distancing; the flexibility for fare collectors and customer service agents to remain in booths during their shifts; additional cleaning and disinfection processes in work areas; full pay for 14-day self-isolation and quarantines; and no medical notes required for sick leave up to and including March 31.

As we provide a critical service for our city during this pandemic, including for health care workers, ATU Local 113 continues to push the TTC and Toronto Public Health to do whatever is necessary to ensure a safe and healthy environment for TTC workers and riders.

If you feel unwell, please stay home. And if you have any questions or safety concerns, please speak with your shop steward or ATU Local 113 board member.

Click the video below to hear an update from President Carlos Santos on the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-9) and what safety measures ATU Local 113 has secured to keep members safe. Please visit https://wemovetoronto.ca/coronavirus/ to learn more.

In a recent interview with Rankandfile.ca, President Carlos Santos had the opportunity to highlight the important role our maintenance workers have in moving Toronto.

“They’re the ones that clean our vehicles, they’re the ones that repair our buses and our streetcars. There’s a lot of behind the scenes staff that nobody sees and I want to give a big shout out to them because they play a very important role. Without them, we [transit operators] can’t do what we do, so they make us look good.”

You can read the full Rank and File article here.

Sisters and Brothers,

With today’s confirmation that one of our members, a maintenance worker, at the Duncan garage was diagnosed with COVID-19, our commitment to health and safety has never been stronger.

Our thoughts are with the member who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and their family. We wish them a speedy recovery while self-isolating. We’ll provide whatever support they and all members need, while in self-isolation or who have been otherwise impacted by COVID-19.

I want to assure you that our members’ health and safety is ATU Local 113’s top priority as our communities continue to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Many of you are rightfully concerned about this diagnosis, but I want to remind you of the additional health protections for workers ATU Local 113 has secured in recent days. These measures include full pay for members in self-isolation and quarantine, the choice to wear protective face masks on the job, no medical notes required for sick leave until March 31, as well as fare collectors and customer service agents having the flexibility to work in TTC Subway station booths if they have health and safety concerns. The TTC has also implemented all-door boarding to avoid crowding at front vehicle entrances.

For maintenance workers, we continue to work with the TTC to ensure increased cleaning and disinfection measures are available and followed to protect workers’ health.

Our member who was diagnosed with COVID-19 returned from travel abroad on March 11, two days before the Government of Canada recommended that all travellers arriving from international destinations self-isolate for 14 days. Canada has now implemented these additional safety measures as further precautions.

ATU Local 113 is following the advice of public health experts – if you feel unwell, please stay home.

Our members are among Toronto’s finest and ATU Local 113 will continue to ensure the TTC provides a safe, clean and healthy work environment for all.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

ATU Local 113 secured additional health protections for its members today, including the choice to wear protective masks on the job. The TTC also announced all-door boarding to avoid overcrowding at TTC vehicle entrances. These policy changes come after ATU Local 113’s strong and persistent demands for the TTC to do everything it can to provide a safe and healthy work environment.

Here are the safety measures and policy changes we can confirm today:

• The choice to wear protective face masks giving workers the right to protect themselves. The TTC’s policy change comes after a weeks-long campaign by ATU Local 113 to demand the right for members to protect their health by wearing a mask.
• All-door boarding on TTC vehicles to help avoid overcrowding at entrances and provide safe distancing for TTC workers and riders.
• Fare collectors and CSA’s can remain in booths for as long as they wish for any health and safety concerns.
• 100 per cent pay if members must go into 14-day quarantine or self-isolation (assessed on a case-by-case basis).
• No medical notes required for sick days up to and including March 31, 2020 to lessen the burden on Ontario’s health care system.
• Reassurance that all members will receive the standard 75 per cent sick pay if unwell, and increased workplace cleaning and disinfection processes where needed.
• Increased maximum weekly hours up to 64 hours to ensure maintenance workers can provide additional cleaning and disinfection to TTC vehicles.

As most people stay indoors, Toronto’s 12,000 hardworking, dedicated and resilient public transit workers are operating and maintaining the TTC system so people, including health care workers, are getting to places across the city during this coronavirus pandemic.

Your health and safety is our top priority. We’ve just launched a webpage for members to continue receiving important updates on the coronavirus outbreak at https://wemovetoronto.ca/coronavirus/.

Please visit wemovetoronto.ca/coronavirus regularly for updates and to learn how ATU Local 113 is helping to keep members safe.