TORONTO, ONTARIO – Carlos Santos, President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, which represents close to 12,000 TTC workers, released the following statement in response to yet another violent assault against a TTC worker, this time a bus operator who was rushed to hospital after sustaining serious injuries while driving their route in Scarborough on Monday, May 17.
“Two weeks ago following a separate assault against an operator, ATU Local 113 demanded answers and action from the TTC and City of Toronto. We have yet to hear a comment from TTC management or the City of Toronto on how they will improve safety. TTC workers need to know what decision makers – including TTC CEO Rick Leary and Mayor John Tory – are doing to protect them from a rising number of assaults on the job.
Enough is enough. The TTC needs to invest more resources to improve the safety of workers and riders.
The disturbing rise in assaults against transit workers throughout the pandemic is unacceptable. A total of 86 operator assaults occurred during the first quarter of 2021 (January 1 to April 4), an increase of 15 (23%) compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
TTC workers deserve immediate action from TTC management and the City of Toronto to protect them against violent assaults on the job.”