Town Hall Meetings Show Union Openess
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RETIRED! NEW BOARD FIRED UP! HELPING HAITI Les, Paul, Phil Profiles of ATU member Local members & Jim’s send the 2010-12 carries 2 Olympic open hearts off party. 7 Executives. 14 torches. 17 and wallets. 22 JUNE 2010 TOWN HALL MEETINGS SHOW UNION OPENESS Though some called it risky and predicted conflict, Local 113’s public invitation to discuss transit complaints proved that TTC problems are largely due to management decisions and stingy governments. 67159-1_ATU OTM SPRING2010.indd 1 5/31/10 8:17:16 AM 2 ATU 113 IN THE COMMUNITY OFFICER REPORTS Courage defines blind son of Local 113 member Town hall meetings a first step in public n June 27, 2009, 22 year-old Mark “Bob Kinnear and members of the ATU raises money for several causes. In 2008 outreach to highlight the real TTC problems ODeMontis, founder of Courage Canada: have supported Courage Canada since he founded Courage Canada, a non-profit Hockey for the Blind Inc., took to his day one,” said DeMontis, son of long-time organization that seeks to give blind youth Bob Kinnear here has never been a time in cause on the road and began Quest to the Local 113 member Massimo DeMontis. from across the nation the chance to learn President/ Tthe 111-year history of Local West, a 5000-kilometre journey in which “Their continued support through various and love the sport of blind hockey. 113 when we have faced greater DeMontis inline-skated from Ontario to fundraising and awareness raising efforts “We have been extremely lucky in that Business Agent challenges. Yet at the same time, British Columbia. He arrived in Vancouver has been simply amazing.” the support for Courage Canada, especially these challenges have given us on October 16 having raised $50,000 for $4500 was raised for Quest to the West from Local 113, has been very strong,” opportunities to connect with the the sport of blind hockey. The three-and-a- as a result of a collaborative effort by all said DeMontis. public on transit issues and make half month journey garnered the support of of the recreation clubs on the property and our union more influential in the many, including ATU Local 113. a direct donation from the Local. “The process. union really went to bat for Mark’s cause,” The challenges we all know about. said Massimo. In the media, it was open season on Helping vision impaired youth became Toronto transit workers for the first Mark’s mission in the years following few months this year. Things have calmed down considerably since the the loss of his own sight at the age town hall meetings but for a long of 17, ending his lifelong dream of time the media bashed and bashed playing professional hockey. Having been away at TTC workers as a group, not as a few individuals who may diagnosed with a rare condition known as Bob Kinnear was on hand with a $5000 cheque (or may not) have fallen short in some way. Whatever the alleged Leber’s Optic Neuropathy, an optic disease from the members of Local 113 to help launch shortcoming was of an individual worker, he or she was pushed out that left him legally blind, DeMontis Mark DeMontis on his successful 5,000 km there by the media as somehow representative of TTC workers in thought he would never play hockey again. Quest to the West to raise money for Courage general. But the encouragement of his family Canada, a non-profit organization devoted to Courage Canada’s HQ during the Quest to the helping blind children learn and play hockey. West bore the ATU 113 logo along with those and friends prompted him to join the Ice DeMontis was also a Paralympics Torch bearer People in the media would hotly dispute this, of course. “We’re just of other sponsors. Owls, a blind hockey team that travels and on its way through Toronto. reporting the news!” they would protest. “If people think that this person we’re reporting on is representative of all TTC workers, that’s their issue, not ours.” June 2010 MAIL PUBLICATION AGREEMENT SENIOR OFFICERS TRANSPORTATION #41202529 RETURN Editor-in-Chief: Bob Kinnear Bob Kinnear Cliff Piggott – Arrow Road/Caldari/Mount UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN President/Business Agent Dennis/Newmarket onthemove is published by ADDRESSES TO ATU Local 113, Toronto Transit Workers. THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS Manny Sforza Carmen Lint – Birchmount/Malvern AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION Executive Vice President Mark Bertoia – Bloor-Danforth Subway/SRT/ Affiliated with the Toronto and York LOCAL 113 Rocco Signorile Eglinton/Wheel-Trans Transportation Region Labour Council, Ontario 812 Wilson Avenue Secretary/Treasurer Paul Haynes – Queensway/Roncesvalles/Russell Federation of Labour and Canadian Downsview, Ontario Scott Gordon Ian Mackay – Wilson Bus/Wilson Subway Labour Congress. M3K 1E5 Assistant Business Agent Phone: 416.398.5113 Maintenance John Wales – Collectors/Clerical/Toronto Coach Toll Free: 1.800.245.9929 Terminal/Patten Building/Traffic Checkers/ Frank Grimaldi Wheel-Trans Administration Fax: 416.398.4978 Assistant Business Agent Transportation www.wemovetoronto.ca WARDENS EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS Maintenance – Sandro Bonadies Alternate – Tony Vaccaro MAINTENANCE Transportation – Frank Malta Bill Chrisp – At Large Alternate – Clarke Smith Pino D’Armiento – Plant John Di Nino – Equipment “E” ATU 113 IN THE COMMUNITY ATU Bill Merlin – Hillcrest Editorial and design services William Fowlie – Equipment “A” by Reno Associates Inc. 67159-1_ATU OTM SPRING2010.indd 2 5/31/10 8:17:18 AM 3 ATU 113 IN THE COMMUNITY OFFICER REPORTS Courage defines blind son of Local 113 member Town hall meetings a first step in public raises money for several causes. In 2008 outreach to highlight the real TTC problems he founded Courage Canada, a non-profit organization that seeks to give blind youth Bob Kinnear here has never been a time in Really? Okay, so tell me: What other groups of workers (journalists, from across the nation the chance to learn President/ Tthe 111-year history of Local for example), get their coffee and washroom breaks reported on and love the sport of blind hockey. 113 when we have faced greater the evening news? Clearly, the real story, as far as the media is “We have been extremely lucky in that Business Agent challenges. Yet at the same time, concerned, is that this person who took a break is a TTC worker. the support for Courage Canada, especially these challenges have given us That’s the story, not the coffee or the call of nature. So don’t tell me those stories were not meant to turn the public against all from Local 113, has been very strong,” opportunities to connect with the TTC workers. said DeMontis. public on transit issues and make our union more influential in the process. Four out of five complaints voiced at the town hall The challenges we all know about. meetings were about problems outside the control In the media, it was open season on Toronto transit workers for the first of front line workers. few months this year. Things have The union responded aggressively to these attacks and will calmed down considerably since the continue to do so. We defend our members with all resources at town hall meetings but for a long our disposal. Not just in the media but in the community at large. time the media bashed and bashed Our “Let’s Talk” town hall meetings proved beyond a doubt that away at TTC workers as a group, not as a few individuals who may we are not afraid to face criticism and that we are open to ideas on Bob Kinnear was on hand with a $5000 cheque (or may not) have fallen short in some way. Whatever the alleged what we, as workers, can do to make the transit experience better. from the members of Local 113 to help launch shortcoming was of an individual worker, he or she was pushed out Mark DeMontis on his successful 5,000 km there by the media as somehow representative of TTC workers in Quest to the West to raise money for Courage The town halls also opened up opportunities for us to redirect general. Canada, a non-profit organization devoted to public attention towards the real problems of Toronto’s transit helping blind children learn and play hockey. system: management decisions and government underfunding. DeMontis was also a Paralympics Torch bearer People in the media would hotly dispute this, of course. “We’re just Four out of five complaints voiced at the town halls were about on its way through Toronto. reporting the news!” they would protest. “If people think that this matters completely outside the control of front line workers. person we’re reporting on is representative of all TTC workers, that’s Workers and riders are both victims of the chronic underfunding their issue, not ours.” of the TTC that began under the Harris Conservative government 15 years ago. continues on page 4 TRANSPORTATION WE TOLD YOU SO! BOARD OF TRADE CALLS FOR MORE INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT. Cliff Piggott – Arrow Road/Caldari/Mount Dennis/Newmarket It’s not often that a conservative business organization agrees with a Her report, What if the TTC Disappeared? found that the total union but the Toronto Board of Trade (TBT) seems to economic benefits of our existing public transit system (including Carmen Lint – Birchmount/Malvern be on the same page as Local 113. its impact on reducing congestion) was at least $12 billion a year, Mark Bertoia – Bloor-Danforth Subway/SRT/ likely much more. Eglinton/Wheel-Trans Transportation A recent report by the TBT, Global City: Scorecard on Prosperity Paul Haynes – Queensway/Roncesvalles/Russell 2010, found that road congestion in the GTA is costing us $5 Welcome aboard, Board of Trade! billion annually.