'REGROUP AND STOP BLAMING': National transit union rips TTC's vax back-up plan
ATU's John di Nino called on TTC CEO Rick Leary to resign
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The national president of Canada’s transit union has joined in condemning the TTC’s plans on handling a potential vaccine-mandate staffing crunch.
On Thursday, a statement from Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)’s John di Nino called on TTC CEO Rick Leary to resign, and urged the city to begin working with the union to end the current impasse over the commission’s mandatory vaccination policy.
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“The Amalgamated Transit Union has been advocating since the beginning of the pandemic, in cooperation with our locals, to procure, promote and enable vaccinations for all transit workers,” said di Nino in a statement.
“Instead of working with us on this, the TTC has resorted to policies that hurt not only workers but the public as well.”
On Wednesday, the TTC announced plans were in the works to cut service in response to the potential loss of nearly 2,000 staffers, who will be put on unpaid leave if they don’t disclose their vaccination status to management by Nov. 20.
Workers who don’t disclose by the end of this year will be fired.
Leary said on Wednesday that the TTC’s plans are meant to maintain service on Toronto’s busiest surface routes — including Wilson, Finch, Eglinton and Jane.
“Protecting service for those who need us most and delivering the service that our customers expect of us is my priority,” he said.
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Di Nino’s comments echo those made by ATU Local 113 president Carlos Santos, who accused the TTC of steamrolling policy instead of working with the union to maintain both jobs and service.
“The TTC needs to regroup and stop blaming hard-working transit operators for creating their own mismanagement,” di Nino said.
About 88% of the TTC’s 15,090 active employees have disclosed their status, the TTC said Wednesday.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
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