TORONTO, ONTARIO – Carlos Santos, President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, released the following statement regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at the TTC’s Queensway Garage, resulting all maintenance workers at Queensway who worked shifts from April 12 to April 22, 2020 to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms until May 1.
As of Thursday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m., six ATU Local 113 members have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Queensway Garage – the latest case confirmed today (April 23).
“Our thoughts are with all ATU Local 113 members, including the six at Queensway Garage, who have tested positive for COVID-19. We wish them a fast and full recovery and hope to see them back on the job soon.
In recent weeks, we have seen at least six confirmed COVID-19 cases and two work stoppages at Queensway Garage given TTC workers’ legitimate concerns about their health and safety. Toronto Public Health and the TTC have completely mismanaged the coronavirus outbreak at the Queensway Garage.
While it’s a good move for maintenance workers at Queensway Garage to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms until May 1, Toronto Public Health and the TTC should have listened to our union’s concerns and acted sooner to protect TTC workers.
Toronto’s public transit workers are among the heroes of this crisis, getting essential workers to hospitals, nursing homes, grocery stores and other critical workplaces.
I am calling on Dr. Eileen De Villa and Toronto Public Health to step up and do more to protect TTC workers’ health during this pandemic. Toronto Public Health and the TTC must do everything they should to avoid another coronavirus outbreak like we have at Queensway Garage.”