The Ontario government today announced an expanded list of essential workers who will be entitled to free emergency childcare services – and public transit workers are excluded once again.
The workers on the expanded list are certainly deserving of emergency childcare and ATU Local 113 thanks them for their service during the pandemic. However, the Ontario government must start recognizing the critical service public transit workers are doing for Toronto. Instead of receiving pandemic pay or emergency childcare services, 1,000 of ATU Local 113 members are facing pink slips.
Public transit workers deserve more respect as they put themselves and their loved ones at risk by providing an essential service during the pandemic. Emergency government funding is needed now to support public transit workers.
Ontario News Release: More Frontline Workers Eligible for Emergency Child Care