Author: Stephanie Gomez

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.

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.

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.