Author: Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 Secures Additional Health Protections for Members

by Stephanie Gomez

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.

READ: TTC workers want to start wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus

by Stephanie Gomez

In a recent article, blogTO has joined other news outlets in covering ATU Local 113’s fight for the right of TTC workers to protect their health. You can read that article here: TTC workers want to start wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus

In the article, President Carlos Santos has reiterated his call for the TTC to increase health precautions for workers in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including allowing workers to protect themselves by wearing masks on the job.

President Santos’ call for TTC workers’ protection comes at a critical time as the Toronto Star is reporting that our neighbouring New York State has asked commuters to avoid packed buses and subways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

When it comes to protecting members on the job, the TTC should worry less about public perception and focus on public protection. If members feel that it is in their health interest to wear a mask on the job, ATU Local 113 will fully support them.

Happy International Women’s Day!

by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 is wishing all members and their families a Happy International Women’s Day!

Today and every day, we salute our Sisters and all those who strive to make gender equality a reality. While recognizing the achievements women and girls have made, ATU Local 113 remains committed to the work that still needs be done to ensure they have equal opportunities to succeed.

To commemorate this day, the Women’s Committee and other members represented ATU Local 113 at the International Women’s Day March at the University of Toronto.

#EqualforEach #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay

READ: Toronto’s transit unions demand better health precautions as coronavirus spreads

by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos is calling on the TTC to allow workers to protect themselves by wearing masks on the job. The TTC should focus less on public perception and more on public health. Transit workers have the right to protect their health in the same way countless TTC riders do by wearing masks on subways, streetcars and buses. ATU Local 113 will back members 110% if they need to protect themselves by wearing a mask at work.

Read more at the Globe and Mail here.

ATU Local 113 research shows that two thirds of Torontonians disapprove of TTC management’s plan to eliminate Subway Guard

by Stephanie Gomez

In a new poll conducted for ATU Local 113, two thirds of Torontonians (64%) disapprove of TTC management’s plan to eliminate the second subway crew person, the Subway Guard. Just one fifth support this plan (19%), known as OPTO (One Person Train Operation). These findings are decisive. It is clear the public doesn’t agree with TTC management’s plan to eliminate the Subway Guard.

“It is rare to see this level of consistency of opinion on a public transit issue” said John Corbett, Vice President at Mainstreet Research, the firm that conducted the polling.

The full report can be viewed and downloaded below.

Mainstreet Research: Torontonians’ attitudes on eliminating subway guards and public

READ: Automation will mean the end of an unusual, but effective, safety practice on the TTC’s Yonge line

by Stephanie Gomez

To coincide with the TTC’s announcement that it extended subway operations on its new Automatic Train Control (ATC), the Globe and Mail has published an article titled “Automation will mean the end of an unusual, but effective, safety practice on the TTC’s Yonge line.”

The role of subway guards, beyond the point-and-acknowledge protocol, is important for passenger safety. They do much more than operating the doors, and have saved people from injuries, stopped suicides and assisted in emergencies and evacuations.

ATU Local 113 is looking forward to showing Toronto how important subway guards are to the safety of transit riders in the coming months.

Click here to read the Globe’s full article.

ATU Local 113 responds to spoof posters featuring members

by Stephanie Gomez

The Toronto Sun recently reported that spoof TTC fare evasion posters featuring ATU Local 113 members were being circulated online.

Any mean-spirited campaign that targets and insults Toronto’s public transit workers is inappropriate and unacceptable. ATU Local 113 members are not to blame for the TTC’s problems.

Instead, Torontonians should focus their attention on the failed PRESTO system that costs the TTC hundreds of millions a year, as well as the lack of government funding the TTC so badly needs to operate.

Click here to read the full Toronto Sun story.

Black History Month: ATU Local 113 Celebrates its Diversity

by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 is extremely proud of its history of diversity and inclusion. These values are the foundation of solidarity, the idea that we are stronger when we work together.

In the spirit of solidarity and in celebration of Black History Month, ATU Local 113 organized a Black History Month lunch on February 19 at Mount Dennis Bus Garage. All members, regardless of racial, ethnic or cultural background gathered to recognize the contributions of the Black community to ATU Local 113 and the legacies of Black Canadians. Black history is an integral part of Canada that everyone should celebrate.

What diversity looks like at ATU Local 113

The annual lunch was organized by Brothers Mark Reed, Paul Wong and others who are passionate about the history of the Black community and their fight for equal rights.

The event also showcased the growing diversity in the workplace. ATU Local 113 is as diverse as Toronto itself. Torontonians see themselves represented in the workers that keep this city moving. That’s why ATU Local 113’s recognition and celebration of diversity will not stop after February, and rather continue all year round.

A huge thank you to Mark Reed, Paul Wong and all those that volunteered their time to make the event such a success.

TOMORROW: Big Push for Solidarity as Four Education Unions Strike Together

by Stephanie Gomez

ATU Local 113 is encouraging members to join the fight for public education on February 21. All four major teacher unions will strike at the same time across Ontario. That means around 200,000 education workers will be on the picket lines, impacting over 2 million students from K-12.

Join parents, students, community members and 30,000 Toronto education workers for the largest-ever picket line on the Queen’s Park lawns.

WHERE: Queen’s Park
WHEN: February 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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.

Another P3 Nightmare for Metrolinx as Costly Eglinton Crosstown LRT Delayed Again

by Stephanie Gomez

Carlos Santos, President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, released the following statement to media regarding Metrolinx’s latest P3 fiascos with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT being further delayed “well into 2022” and problem-plagued Alstom soon taking over Bombardier’s 30-year, $403-million maintenance contract for the LRT line:

“Make no mistake – Metrolinx is selling out the public interest in favour of its public-private-partnership contracts with big, unaccountable and profit-hungry companies. In the latest blow to Metrolinx’s failed P3 model, Torontonians have learned they must wait well into 2022 for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to begin operating, once again delaying much-needed transit in our city.

This delay comes after reports the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is at risk of going over budget by more than $330 million. With these major financial and schedule overruns that are costing Torontonians dearly, Metrolinx needs a new approach to building, operating and maintaining transit – and that proven approach is to keep all transit public.

Along with the cost and schedule overruns, Metrolinx faces even more problems with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The Alstom takeover of Bombardier’s $403-million, 30-year maintenance contract for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT raises significant concerns about the French multinational Alstom’s ability to deliver maintenance services, especially given the company’s ongoing problems in Ottawa, where its Alstom Citadis Spirit trains have malfunctioned on the new Ottawa LRT system, causing major headaches for Ottawa commuters. Frustrated with Alstom’s service, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said Alstom’s reputation is in ‘tatters’ and the mayor said he is unable to recommend Alstom trains to other cities interested in the rail vehicles.

If Alstom cannot deliver on its commitment to Ottawa, how can Metrolinx trust the French multinational to properly maintain the Eglinton Crosstown LRT once its finally operational?

Torontonians deserve better from Metrolinx when it comes to public transit, such as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Once operational, skilled and trusted TTC workers – not problem-plagued Alstom – should maintain the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Torontonians have had enough with major cost and schedule overruns that are far too common with Metrolinx’s failed P3 model.”