By C. Rockarts In March, cities across Canada implemented fare-free public transit and back door boarding to encourage social distancing and curb the spread of COVID-19. On March 20, the City of Edmonton moved to temporarily suspend fare collection on all Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) buses, LRT and DATS services. Now, as many cities ‘relaunch’ Continue readingThe battle in Edmonton for a new kind of transit
ATU
by Emily Leedham You can’t pay while staying six feet away. So cities across Canada are implementing free public transit and back door boarding to encourage social distancing and curb the spread of COVID-19. Free transit reduces operator interactions with riders entering and exiting the vehicle and limits operator exposure to infection. Free transit also Continue readingCities across Canada implement free transit to curb COVID-19
Dear Brother John A. Costa,International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union I hope this letter finds you well. Let me introduce myself. My name is Blake McCall and I am an active rank and file member of ATU Local 107 in Hamilton, Ontario. I have been a member for just under five years. I am Continue readingLetter to ATU International President
by Blake McCallHamilton bus driver and member of ATU Local 107 On Thursday December 12 the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada staged an info picket at the Voyago Headquarters in London, Ontario. ATU locals from across southern Ontario participated, as well as members of OPSEU and the London and District Labour Council. The action was called Continue readingVoyago drive is frontline against transit privatization
by Romy Garrido Knox United Church played host to the newly formed Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, a strikingly diverse coalition of labour unions, religious groups, universities, and community organizations representing more than 30,000 Calgarians.
Winnipeg’s city council proposes an austerity budget which would close libraries, pools & cut public transit. Meanwhile, police still receive the bulk of public funds.
ATU Canada has sponsored an audio documentary called Still Waiting for the Bus: The Unnatural Death of Prairie Intercity Transit, made in partnership with Winnipeg-based documentary producer and RankandFile.ca editor Emily Leedham. This documentary explores the impacts of losing the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and Greyhound bus services in Western Canada. It also interrogates the claims that Continue readingATU demands a national public intercity transit service
On Wednesday, June 26, Winnipeg Transit drivers, members of ATU Local 1505, announced they would not enforce fares on Thursday, June 27, which included transit to the Winnipeg Blue Bomber’s home opener. Last month, ATU Local 1505 took its first legal job action on May 14, 2019, not enforcing fares for riders. Shortly after, the Continue readingBus drivers on second “fare strike” give Winnipeggers free transit
by Emily Leedham Winnipeg Transit drivers, who are members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, will not be enforcing fares from riders tomorrow, Thursday, June 27. This will be the second time ATU 1505 has taken this form of job action, the first “fare strike” taking place last month on Tuesday, May 14th. After the Continue readingWinnipeg Transit drivers go on second “fare strike” tomorrow
Public transit infrastructure and services have been actively under attack over the past several years. In 2017, the Sask Party shutdown the Saskatchewan Transit Company, which provided intercity bus transit in Saskatchewan. Last year, Greyhound pulled out of all but one of their bus routes in Western Canada, with no provincial or federal governments stepping Continue readingFighting Uber & Lyft to Expand Public Transit
by Emily Leedham Update May 31, 2019: ATU 1505 Members have voted 97% against the City’s offer. Voter turnout was 84%. No job action announced for the weekend, but the union says there will be action in the “coming days,” and will inform the public ahead of time. ATU 1505 also invited the City back Continue readingWinnipeg Transit drivers may take job action this weekend
By Emily Leedham On Tuesday, May 14, the majority of Winnipeg Transit drivers, who are members of ATU Local 1505, did not enforce payment from transit riders. This “fare strike” is the first time the ATU has done this type of action in North America. “Well, our members are tired and they wanted some action,” Continue readingWinnipeg Transit drivers’ fare strike ATU’s first in North America