Today, in Montreal, QC, more than 250 Local leaders from across North America gathered for the 2024 ATU CAN-AM Conference to come together to discuss our shared purpose and the strategies to strengthen our Union and industries across North America.
After a warm welcome from host Local 1557-Gatineau, QC, President/Business Agent Olivier Lachance, International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo joined ATU CAN-AM President Danny Casella, Local 726-Staten Island, NY, to kick off the Conference, thanking our Local officers for their leadership and the important work they do in advocating for our members, Union, and riders. She talked about our endorsement of Kamala Harris in the critical election in the U.S., our recent successful strikes, contract wins for our Locals, our industry-changing Bus of the Future project, and the other work of our Union.
One of the day’s sessions was a presentation from ATU Health and Safety Director Andrew Falotico on the ATU Bus Design Innovation Program/Bus of the Future project that will transform the design of the bus driver workstation to better protect our members on the job. A highlight was a tour of three Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) buses on-site of three driver workstation concepts that were retrofitted by our Local 113-Toronto, ON, and the TTC.
Also in attendance and addressing the conference were International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, along with International Vice Presidents Manny Sforza, Curtis Howard, Natalie Cruz, Anthony Garland, Ray Greaves, Steve MacDougall, Ken Wilson, Amanda Sawyer-Malone, Mark Henry, Jacques Chapman, and ATU Canada President John Di Nino.