ATU International Pledges Full Support for Local 113 in Fight for a Fair and Just Contract
Toronto, ON - As TTC workers escalate their campaign for a fair and just contract with practice pickets today, ATU International has pledged its full support for ATU Local 113-Toronto, ON, members and their June 7 strike date.
"After months of negotiations, it has become clear that the TTC has no interest in giving TTC workers the fair and just contract they deserve,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Amidst growing violence on the TTC, our heroic Local 113 members have put their lives on the line every day to safely transport our riders across Toronto, but the TTC continues to treat them with disrespect and disdain.”
“As TTC workers show their strength and solidarity at our practice pickets today, let this be a loud and clear message to management at the TTC, the ATU International, with our more than 200,000 members across North America, support our Local 113 members in their struggle, and we will be standing in solidarity alongside them as they prepare to go on strike on June 7,” Costa continued.
Since their contract expired on March 31, 2024, Local 113 has launched the ‘United to Win’ campaign. Over the past months, the Local has trained more than 500 member organizers and picket captains, gathered a petition of more than 8,000 members, and garnered thousands of solidarity letters from riders and advocates in support of TTC workers. This led to a strike authorization with 98.2% of the members in favor of a strike.
“The Local 113 ‘United to Win’ campaign is unprecedented in our Union’s history. The Local has mobilized a record number of members in this fight. Riders, unions, and transit advocates have pledged support for our TTC workers. This resulted in our Union’s largest strike authorization vote ever,” Costa continued. “Our Union only uses a full strike as a last resort because we don’t want to abandon our riders who depend on us, but the TTC is leaving us with no other option.”
Among the critical issues are job security, wages, dignified working conditions, and safety on the job. The stark reality is that TTC workers cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. Attacks on TTC workers and violence on the buses and subways are at record levels.
Last week, in a legal win for ATU Local 113 Ontario's top court upheld the right of TTC workers to go on strike. On May 22, a No-Board Report issued by the Ministry of Labour triggered a 17-day countdown for Local 113 to withdraw services as early as June 7. Local 113 considered the decision carefully and announced a strike date for Friday, June 7, 2024.