Frontline Public Transit Workers Demand Action to Protect Transit Workers
In an April 15 press release signed by John Di Nino, President of
the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canada, the union demands action
from the federal government to protect transit workers and preserve
this essential service.
The union states that as of April 15, transit workers across Canada
have not been provided personal protective equipment such as masks and
gloves. In spite of this they continue to work, moving the general
public including essential workers in health care, emergency services,
grocery, pharmacy and other services deemed essential.
"Public Transit employees have no way to protect themselves and have
a right to protective masks and gloves, just like other public service
workers," says Di Nino.
 Di Nino
goes on to say: "We stand together to urge the government of Canada to
provide dedicated operating funding to public transit agencies in
Canada. We are united to help our community amid the pandemic and we
are united in our call for federal operating subsidies to make these
important investments in front line transit workers. Public
Transit across the nation is suffering from a drastic reduction in
riders as people are encouraged to stay at home until COVID-19 is under
control -- and this will lead to service reductions and lay-offs,
Public Transit operations rely on the farebox and without those fares,
the system will be devastated and unsustainable -- but the immediate
issue is
keeping our workers safe."
As part of its demand for emergency funding to save Canada's public
transit system, ATU Canada is demanding the immediate redirection of at
least $5 billion from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank to support a
National Transit Strategy with dedicated operational funding.
Petition
ATU Canada has launched a national petition calling for people to
Stand with Canadian Transit Workers to send a strong message to the
Canadian government that it needs to protect the workers that move the
country.
The petition reads:
"To: The Cabinet Committee on the federal response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
"From: [Name of the person]
"We, the transit professionals in mass public transit, over the road
buses, maintenance, bus operations, paratransit, train and subways, are
providing quality transportation to the people of Canada during the
COVID-19 pandemic. We have been working around the clock during this
crisis to deliver public transit for essential service workers on the
frontlines. As transit professionals, we are acutely aware of the
critical role we play in guaranteeing unrestricted access to mobility
for emergency service providers, health care professionals, and grocery
and retail workers.
"We are maintaining service, but we have urgent priorities that need
to be addressed with emergency funding for our agencies. These
priorities include personal protective equipment for transit workers,
additional leave for anyone affected by the virus, fare elimination to
support social distancing, rear door boarding and ensuring furloughed
transit workers are compensated and have jobs to return to when our
economy restarts."
To sign the petition, click here.
This article was published in
Number 21 - April 16, 2020
Article Link:
Frontline Public Transit Workers Demand Action to Protect Transit Workers
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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