ATU HEROES - At Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and Local 113-Toronto, ON
Our members have been known to go above and beyond the call of duty to help those in need. Our latest ATU heroes are from Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and Local 113-Toronto, ON.
Brother Pete Warner, Local 726-Staten Island
In the hustle and bustle of Staten Island, there are everyday heroes. Among them is our Local 726 Brother Pete Warner. A bus operator, Warner rescued a very young child running in the middle of the street. Without hesitation, he blocked traffic, exited his bus, and was able to secure the child until police arrived. A father of two children, Warner stayed with the child for 45 minutes until police arrived.
“The drivers, they do a lot of things every day to help people. Every once in a while, you get one like this where it’s really a miracle that nothing happened to this kid,” said Local 726 President/Business Agent Danny Cassella.
Sister Monique Blake, Local 113-Toronto, ON
In Toronto, ON, our Local 113 Sister Monique Blake noticed a rider, Michele-Marie Beer, was trembling and dizzy on her Toronto streetcar. Sister Blake, whose mother is a nurse, insisted Beer stay on her streetcar until help arrived. It turns out Beer needed brain surgery to remove a life-threatening tumor. “I’m alive because of this amazing woman who wouldn’t let me off a streetcar because she saw me,” Beer said.
“Every day, our members exemplify the best of humanity,” said International President John Costa. “We are incredibly proud of their bravery and dedication to service and commend them for going above and beyond, saving people’s lives.”
If you have a story about one of our members going above and beyond the call of duty please send it to officeofthepresident@atu.org.