ATU and SFL sound Alarm Bells as Saskatoon Transit Fails to Respond to Escalating Violence on Transit System
For Immediate Release
SASKATOON-SK, April 23, 2024 – The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) are sounding the alarm bells once again as violence against transit workers escalates out of control. With assaults occurring almost daily, the silence from the City of Saskatoon transit administration is deafening. “Transit agencies just don’t care about frontline workers as it appears they believe that violence is an occupational hazard which is far from the truth,” says Darcy Pederson, President of ATU Local 615.
The assaults are increasingly becoming more violent – and are not just against transit operators but also against the riding public.
Over the last couple of months, we have seen an uptick in violence on transit workers ranging from workers being spat on, sprayed with bear spray, being punched and kicked. As violence continues to escalate across the city, some of these troubling situations or individuals make their way onto our transit system, putting passengers at greater risk of being assaulted or making them feel unsafe.
“The protection of all workers in Saskatchewan needs to be a priority for all employers. We all deserve a safe workplace free from violence and acts of intimidation,” says Lori Johb, President of SFL.
The ATU is extremely concerned with the lack of response from Transit officials who have remained silent, when in fact, the issue should be front and center. The installation of driver safety barriers may be a deterrent but don’t go far enough. The ATU has repeatedly asked for a National Taskforce to tackle transit violence. We need Saskatoon Transit to step up to the plate with its Union partners and implement immediate measures to curb transit violence. ATU believes stronger enforcement of the criminal code, mental health and addiction support, along with increased visibility of enforcement officers can also act as deterrents.
“This is a complex issue that requires multi-levels of stakeholders to come together and establish best practices to minimize worker and rider exposure. We understand that we cannot eliminate all acts of violence, but we ask the employers to take every reasonable precaution and practice to keep workers and riders safe,” says John Di Nino, ATU Canada President.
Your participation will be the difference in our fight. Together, we can stand up for the rights of our working families, defend public education, and ensure a brighter future for all residents of Baton Rouge.
ATU Canada calls on Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and City Council to Keep Transit Public
TORONTO-ON, April 23, 2024 – ATU Canada calls on Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath to do the right thing and vote against privatization of the proposed Hamilton LRT line. Hamilton City Council will be voting on April 24th to adopt a 10-year private public partnership agreement that will see transit operations and maintenance outsourced to a private contractor. HSR has operated the transit system for 150 years and ATU has maintained the transit system for 125 years.
In what appears to be a complete reversal from what Mayor Horwath has said for over a decade – she is now in favour of contracting out good union jobs. “I have lobbied and fought hard along with Mayor Horwath when she was Leader of ONDP on anti-privatization agendas, but I guess her recent actions speak louder than the words she spoke. A complete turncoat position on her previous anti-privatization ideology,” says John Di Nino, President of ATU Canada.
In a recent Mainstreet Research survey, almost 70% of Hamiltonians said they prefer to have the LRT operations and maintenance remain public, operated by HSR. We hope that City Council follows the voice of their Constituents.
After many years of failed privatization of infrastructure in Hamilton, and the numerous recent examples of LRT project failures across Ontario, we hope that Mayor Horwath and City Council will live up to the commitments of previous City Councils who vowed to Keep Transit Public in the City of Hamilton – and not burden Hamiltonians with the endless and inflated financial cost of a privately run transit system.
