Two London transit operators were assaulted late this morning after two totally unprovoked attacks. The first attack occurred when a driver was transitioning shifts from one bus to another. The assailant jumped up behind the operator and attacked him. The driver is currently in hospital.

ATU Canada has signed on to a letter along with almost 50 other Canadian labour unions and union locals including the Ontario Federation of Labour, calling on the federal government to immediately suspend bilateral trade of all arms and related materials with the State of Israel.

ATU Canada’s National President, John Di Nino, is condemning Ontario Premier, Doug Ford’s attack on Canada’s labour unions. In an announcement made today by the provincial government, Ford said he intends to recall the legislature on Thursday to invoke the notwithstanding clause to pass legislation ruled unconstitutional by the Superior Court yesterday to restrict third-party spending laws outside of election periods. If invoked, this will be the first time any Ontario government has ever invoked the notwithstanding clause.

“As a union that represents transit workers from diverse backgrounds, I strongly and unequivocally condemn this hateful racially motivated act that has left a young child without a family.” Said National President John Di Nino. “No one should have to face such violence and hatred. An injury to one is an injury to us all.”

Today, it was announced by Greyhound that it would be cancelling it services permanently, leaving Canadians across the country without intercity bus services and more than 300 transit workers without jobs. Greyhound had previously announced earlier in 2020 that they would be suspending their services nation-wide. Along with the lack of funding from the Trudeau government for intercity transit, the final nail in the coffin was legislation from the Ontario provincial government, specifically Bill 213 that led to the total deregulation of the Motor Coach Industry.

The devastating metro crash that left many without their loved ones shows the consequences of putting profit over the lives of residents and a functioning, safe and reliable transit system and should be a warning to transit systems across Canada.

Transit workers in Airdrie voted to ratify their collective agreement yesterday with 75% support after over a year of negotiations. Airdrie transit workers joined the Amalgamated Transit Union last year after a successful organizing drive by ATU Local 987.

I would first like to thank the members of ATU Canada for putting their confidence in me for a second three year term. It has been my honour to serve you through these difficult and trying times. I am honoured to continue to be serving you once again. It is the strength and perseverance of our membership that has gotten me through this and will continue to see our union through this global pandemic. As President, I will continue to fight for the things that matter like priority access to voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations for transit workers, permanent operational funding for transit agencies, and fighting attempts at privatization of our public transit system.