Provincial Legislation and Premiers Can Protect Transit Workers
- Emergency funding for transit systems to offset increased costs and lost revenue.
- Ensure transit agencies are reimbursed for increased operating costs and lost revenue during the crisis.
- Ensure that all available funds for transit agencies can be flexed and applied to urgent service needs, workforce protection, and long-term workforce retention.
- Priority distribution of PPE to frontline transit system workers.
- Official recognition of transit workers as “front-line” to make them eligible for increased protections.
- Additional funds for the purchase and distribution of N95 mask, gloves, goggles and other necessary PPE.
- Additional funds for cleaning and disinfecting of vehicles, workspaces, and high touch areas throughout transit systems and workplaces.
- Job Protection in the event of lay-offs as a result of COVID-19.
- Guaranteed recall and full wage benefit payments to workers during lay-off period.
- 100% paid sick leave.
- At least 15 days of paid sick leave for all workers in the event they are exposed or believed to have been exposed to COVID-19.
- Paid at their regular rate of pay.
- Guaranteed job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.
- Waive requirements to provide doctor’s note for eligibility.
- Continue paying motor coach staff and school bus workers during school closures.
- Demand that motor coach employees are guaranteed crew values or mileage allowance.
- Demand that school bus operators get paid crew values until the end of the school year
