Author: Stephanie Gomez

An important Labour Day message from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council:

Dear Friends,

This Labour Day is the first time in 149 years that we will not be on the streets showing our pride in what we do and raising our voices for social and economic justice. But health and safety must come first! While we will miss seeing our Sisters and Brothers out Monday morning showing our labour pride, we are excited about the launch of our A Just Recovery for All campaign.

Over 30 local and national affiliates have jumped on board and the solidarity shows: over 130 buses will feature our ad, each directly sponsored by an affiliate, and banners will be up on six highway bridges in Toronto. Digital ads are appearing across social media and we launch our virtual parade – this Sunday at 2pm on Facebook and YouTube – featuring the wonderful diversity of Toronto and York Region’s labour movement.

It’s been a hard year for workers and our communities with COVID-19, the impact of systemic racism and the economic uncertainty facing us all. This year, it’s more important than ever to show our union pride, celebrate and speak out for justice.

Here are ways you can participate and help spread the message:

Virtual Labour Day Parade – Premieres Sunday at 2pm on Facebook and YouTube

A dynamic variety show featuring the wonderful diversity of Toronto’s workers from teachers, nurses, paramedics, construction workers, grocery clerks, public servants, actors and more.

Trailer 
Link to shareable assets

SPOT-A-BUS Contest – New draw every week all month

Keep your eyes peeled to catch one of our 130 A Just Recovery for All bus ads across Toronto and York Region. All you have to do is take a photo, post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #JustRecoveryForAll and each week we’ll do a draw for a chance to win a spot in the next issue of Labour Action Magazine and other prizes!

Link to shareable assets

A Just Recovery for All

Our theme this year is a call to action for decision-makers at all level of government to tackle the deeply entrenched economic and racial inequality of our society. And our imagery features some of the essential workers who make up our membership and continue to work on the front-lines to keep our communities safe.

Read about our campaign
Find assets to share online

History of Labour Day – Did you know Toronto inspired the creation of Labour Day? We have created some assets to share that fun facts widely on social media!

Link to shareable assets

Virtual Programme – Launches Sunday at 2pm online

Featuring our participating affiliates and our labour community, the virtual programme will be live along with the virtual parade. Check out our website and social channels to get your copy!

Forward Together, A Canadian Plan

Monday 1pm on Facebook – The Canadian Labour Congress invite you to celebrate Labour Day with Canada’s unions! Canada has weathered the pandemic better than the United States, because we all worked together. Now we need to keep sticking together and disaster-proof Canada for the future. Join the movement for an economic recovery that work for all persons living in Canada. Tune in to their Facebook page on Labour Day at 1 p.m. EDT to help launch their new campaign Forward Together, A Canadian Plan. Featuring: a message from the President, and special tributes and stories from workers about their experiences.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Labour Day!

Sisters and Brothers,

As we recognize and celebrate Labour Day 2020, we acknowledge that this has been a year like no other for our union, Toronto and beyond.

Through a global pandemic, layoffs and 62 Sisters and Brothers testing positive for the coronavirus, ATU Local 113 members have been serving our city every single day this year. We thank each and every one of you for your distinguished service. Your commitment is nothing but inspiring, and I have never been prouder to be the President of ATU Local 113.

Whether it’s fighting for health and safety, protecting jobs or advocating for government funding, Labour Day 2020 reminds us of the importance of being united through a strong organized labour union.

Before the pandemic was even declared, ATU Local 113 was busy advocating for our members’ health and safety while the TTC dragged its feet. Face masks may be a common sight nowadays but let’s remember that our members weren’t even allowed to wear them on the job until March. We fought for that, called for masks to be mandatory for riders and earned numerous additional protections for our members.

When ridership plummeted in the spring, the TTC announced that it would cut service and lay off 1,000 members. While our union’s hard work behind the scenes helped cut the number of layoffs in half to 450, these cuts were deep and insulting, especially in light of your hard work on the frontlines of a global pandemic. The TTC’s recent decision to recall 150 members is helpful but it won’t be enough. Our city needs full service reinstated immediately and ATU Local 113 will not stop until all our members are back at work.

Our union successfully led the campaign for transit to receive emergency funding from the government and provincial governments, but we’ll continue advocating for a transformed TTC funding model.

Staying true to our values, Local 113 also recognizes the importance of standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. There is no place for intolerance of any kind, racial or otherwise, in our union or in our communities. Our society is facing an overdue reckoning with racial injustice, diversity and inclusion. ATU Local 113 will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with this movement.

The difficulties faced in 2020 remind us that we are stronger together. That we must stay united and fight for our rights as workers. And that there are no days off when you’re committed to serving your community. This Labour Day, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come and acknowledge the hard work that lies ahead.

In solidarity,

Carlos Santos
President, ATU Local 113

As Toronto finally begins to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, Premier Doug Ford is using it as an excuse to push for the privatization of TTC bus routes. The Ontario government will make it a requirement for the TTC to establish “microtransit” partnerships with ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Uber to access the second round of emergency coronavirus funding.

ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos recently told the Daily Hive that the policy is a way to “line the pockets of big ride-share corporations headquartered in San Francisco. Now is the time to strengthen public transit, not attack it. Cutting service and selling off parts of the TTC to for-profit corporations will only hurt Ontario workers and riders.”

Click the link below to read the full article:

Ontario asks cities to potentially replace some public transit with private car companies