Blog

Today's Budget Needs a Promise for Emergency Transit Operational Funding, Our Cities are Depending on it

We have been encouraged to see government announcements in support of transit -- notably the $14.9 billion pledged towards capital projects over eight years but a budget that is focused on an equtiable post-pandemic recovery must focus on providing emergency funding for public transit.

ATU Canada Celebrates International Women's Day

March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women’s achievements and take collective action for equality. The UN-recognized event was born of women organizing in the labour, socialist, and peace movements. ATU Canada recognizes the important strides made by ATU members to bring dignity to their working environment and fight for equality in their communities.

Electric Buses: Battleground for the Just Transition (Part 1)

Canadian public transit is entering a new era of propulsion, transitioning from diesel-fueled buses to smooth-running, practically silent, low-emission battery electric buses (BEBs). Some transit history buffs will be quick to point out that many forms of transit, including the trolley buses of Toronto, were once fueled by electricity, so this is merely a return to simpler days. However, the scale of this transition is going to be truly unique in Canadian public transit history.

Free Public Transit in Canada?

The debate about the merits of free transit (or more accurately, fare-free transit) is making its way into public discourse in Canada. While fare-free transit is a model that has served foreign cities (many based in Europe or South America) for years, its a model that has only recent started to gain substantive consideration in North America.

Voyago drive is front line against transit privatization

**Article by Blake McCall, Hamilton Bus Driver and member of ATU Local 107, writing for Rank and File**

Transport Futures: Equity Summit

What is transit equity, and how can ATU Canada address it in our advocacy work? ATU Canada organizer, Madelin, brought this question with her into the Transport Futures: Equity Summit this week, a single day event bringing together local and international experts in transit to discuss Canada’s mobility context.

Public Transit & Nov. 29th Climate Strike

Transit jobs are good jobs and green ones— transit jobs build better lives and sustainable futures. ATU Canada recognizes the urgency of the climate change crisis and we want to be leaders in the fight for a made-in-Canada Green New Deal and a Just Transition to a carbon-less economy.

Building Skills for Change: Workshop

Leadership is taking responsibility or enabling others to identify the change they want and empowering them to achieve that change in the face of uncertainty... Organizing is leadership that enables your people to join forces and turn their combined resources into the power they need to make the change they want-- Marshall Ganz

1 Year Later: Intercity Transit after Greyhound

ATU President, John Di Nino, and documentary maker, Emily Leedham, are in Manitoba today launching a national campaign and asking the federal government to come forward with a renewed and vibrant vision for intercity public transit.

Election Day of Action!

This week, with days to go before the Federal Election on October 21, ATU members are out in their communities supporting candidates who support public transit. They are door knocking, literature dropping, and rider flyer-ing.

Transit Matters in Election 2019: Federal Party Platforms

As the Canadian Federal Election looms, voters are juggling their list of personal priorities and weighing party platforms to decide how to vote.

Women's Equity and NEW Inclusivity Survey!

The ATU Canada Inclusivity Survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATUinclusion) is open to all members of ATU Canada, and participation is encouraged. All answers will be strictly confidential, unless otherwise discussed. Please spread widely in your unions.

Transport Futures: Federal Election Transportation Debate

The Federal Election cycle is officially on! This week, candidates representing three political parties touted their party's transit vision at the Federal Transportation Debate at the University of Toronto, hosted by Transport Future.

Marcel Malboeuf Scholarship Recipients Announced!

ATU Canada extends our congratulations to the 2019 recipients of the inaugural Marcel Malboeuf scholarship! Today, September 13, would have been Marcel’s birthday. Marcel was a member of Ottawa Local 279, a true unionist, and a friend to all—this award honours his lifelong commitment to the goals of worker democracy, social justice, equality, and peace.

Winning for Workers: CLC Election Training 2019

On Saturday, September 7, members from local unions gathered in a Toronto union hall to attend the Canadian Labour Congress' first (of many!) election campaign trainings in preparation for the 2019 Federal Election. The theme: how to participate in an election campaign that wins for workers.

Training as Transformation: President Di Nino's Story

When he started as a TTC subway cleaner in 1986, John Di Nino could have never anticipated that he would one day be elected to the position of ATU Canada President. In his early days on the job, John was approached by a union steward. He was explained the role of the union and encouraged to get involved.