Author: Stephanie Gomez

Our member, Tunika (Grace) Udoh, is being recognized and celebrated by ATU International for Black History Month! We are proud of her incredible dedication and commitment to the labour movement.

ATU Local 113 Executive members visited a Black History Month display at the union’s Mount Dennis division.

On New Year’s Eve, a large fire occurred on the car of a TTC subway train at the Yonge-Sheppard subway platform on Line 1.  Thankfully, no one lost their life. However, several individuals were injured. It was “fortunate” that the fire broke out while the train was at a station with the doors open to the platform. If the train had been partially or fully in the tunnel at the time of the fire, the outcome could have been very different on account of this train only having a single crew member.

ATU Local 113 has repeatedly raised its concern that the One Person Train Operation poses a serious risk to passenger safety in the event of a fire on board the train.

If this fire occurred in the tunnel, the operator would have been cut off from the passengers by the flames. Assuming the operator was not overcome by fumes,  they would have been able to evacuate themselves through the front of the train, but the passengers would have been left in a smoke-filled train unassisted by any trained personnel.  When and if passengers were able to evacuate themselves they would be going into a tunnel filled with smoke and with a live electrified third rail.

Prior to the TTC implementing One Person Train Operation on this subway line, there were always two operators on board the train. In the event that the fire occurred on a subway train in the tunnel, there would have been an operator on either end who could assist passengers. This would ensure that no passengers would be cut off from trained TTC subway crew onboard the train, and that there would be a crew member to evacuate passengers and cut electric power.

Local 113’s concerns have been ignored by the TTC, presumably so they can “save” literally just a few pennies per ride. The fire that occurred on New Year’s Eve proves that this significant safety concern is not hypothetical, but rather a real one that the TTC should take seriously.

This was a near miss and the TTC should immediately return to two-person operation, as currently exists on Line 2.

On December 17^th, the City of Toronto will mark Transit Worker Assault Awareness Day.

ATU Local 113 continues to advocate strongly for transit workers in Toronto and to fight to make the TTC a safer place to work.

In 2021, Local 113 launched a survey to better understand the experiences and safety concerns of our members. The results highlighted that the problem of violence and harassment is worse than we thought. Our union has  since called on the TTC and the City of Toronto to work with us to make public transit a safer place for workers and passengers alike.

Last year, our union held a joint press conference with ATU Canada, where our members offered their testimony on the violence and assaults they encountered on the job, and the impact these incidents have on their daily lives.

As a result of the union’s due diligence, a Joint Management Health and Safety committee was established to ensure the employer was held accountable for safer work environments for all.

Local 113 continues to pursue several recommendations to develop and implement a comprehensive workers’ safety strategy, including:

Building greater public awareness

As a significant number of assaults on transit workers are committed by members of the public, it is important to develop a better relationship with the public and to create engagement with transit professionals. Conversations must take place within the community to raise awareness. In-person outreach programs can be designed to implement a customer campaign focused on respecting TTC employees and keeping them safe.

Improvements to organizational culture

To support our members and create a workplace environment that prioritizes employees, there needs to be improvements to organizational culture. The TTC needs to improve the current reporting system and actively listen and act upon worker-initiated reports more vigorously. They need to do more to support transit workers mental health, promote diversity and inclusion, improve investigation procedure and risk assessment, provide better training, protection and enforcement, and create external campaigns to increase community engagement.

Investments in improved technology and innovation

Local 113 has recommended that engineering controls be put in place to provide more protective barriers in the workplace to prevent transit workers assaults. Improved communications technology, measures, and procedures for summoning immediate assistance when workplace violence occurs is also required.

Enforcement of proper penalties

There must be consistent and proper enforcement of penalties for members of the public who violate the guidelines on harassment and discrimination or commit acts of violence.

Stopping the violence and assaults on public transit requires collaboration and a commitment to results.

Local 113 will continue to have the voices of our members heard, and advocate for making public transit safer for all.

The announcement by the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario regarding operating funding, which includes $110 million a year for three years, is great news to the citizens of Toronto and the members of ATU Local 113.

This is an important first step towards addressing the starvation of the TTC during the John Tory years. We hope that this bright start will bring the Federal government to the table, and that a permanent fix for the TTC’s finances can be found. This funding, as well as supports for capital improvements and to improve ridership is an important step in revitalizing the TTC.

Our hope is that this funding will finally increase scheduled service to improve and encourage return of ridership, have less customer frustration, and enable a safer environment for transit workers and transit riders. It is critical for funds to be allocated and used to increase maintenance to make TTC vehicles, tracks and infrastructure safer.

It is now more important than ever that all stakeholders continue to work towards stable and secure long term operational funding for the TTC. This is the only way that riders can enjoy a regular, reliable service, free of the stopgap measures relied upon by TTC management for too long. We look forward to a commitment that this transit funding outlined in the New Deal will be made permanent.

ATU Local 113 is proud to endorse Kevin Rupasinghe for City Councillor in the upcoming Scarborough Southwest by-election.

Kevin is a strong advocate for transit funding, transit safety, and our union.

We encourage all members who are eligible to vote on November 30!

ATU Local 113 is pleased to announce our endorsement of Kevin Rupasinghe for the upcoming Scarborough Southwest City Council by-election. We are confident Kevin will fight to keep transit public, protect jobs, and invest in TTC service.

The last several years have been extremely difficult for the TTC. The pandemic was a difficult time for public transit, but chronic underfunding and weak leadership made it even worse. In Mayor Olivia Chow, we have a strong advocate for public transit and an ally to workers – but she needs supporters on City Council to restore and improve service so that we can rebuild trust with TTC riders. We are endorsing Kevin Rupasinghe for City Council because he is the only candidate in Scarborough Southwest with a vision for the future of the TTC and how we can build a sustainable city where everyone has access to affordable, frequent, and reliable public transit.

On November 30, please vote for Kevin Rupasinghe. He is the advocate that TTC workers and riders need today.

We stand with our Brothers and Sisters at ATU Local 1320 as they advocate for a living wage for our fellow transit workers.

Use the link below to send an automated email to Peterborough City Council and their Mayor and show your solidarity.

Where’s the Fairness? | The Ontario Federation of Labour

ATU Local 113 would like to wish our members a happy Diwali!

May the festival of lights bring you and your family health, happiness, and success.