Canadian Agenda: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian Locals

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian Locals

As the pandemic continues, ATU International is working with ATU Canada and our Canadian Locals to fight for better protections for our members, funding for our transit agencies and against privatization.

Status of Permanent Operating Funding Still Uncertain

In early December, the federal government released its Fall Economic Statement regarding the state of Canada’s finances. In it, they re-iterated their commitment to permanent funding for public transit. Although this was a welcome nod for ATU members, there still is no concrete indication that there will be more funding beyond the $1.9 billion provided by the recent Safe Restart Agreement.

Coalition Building Across Canada to Keep Transit Moving

A coalition of transit riders, transit workers, social movement organizations, and other allies has been building across the country to push the government to permanently fund the shortfall in transit operating costs. On December 1st, the coalition held its first virtual rally with over 150 people in attendance. The event included speakers from across the country discussing critical issues impacting ATU members and riders, including the perils of transit privatization, the difficulties faced by people with disabilities taking paratransit, and building a social movement to fight for public transit.

Ontario Ford Government Moves to Try and De-Regulate Motor Coach Industry

Buried in an omnibus bill, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is seeking to repeal the present licensing regime that operates inter-city public transportation. If passed, this could lead to further deregulation of the industry. Abolishing the present licensing system would fuel a race to the bottom in terms of working conditions and service standards. The legislation would encourage competition on busy service routes, while simultaneously eliminating the only government body which presently ensures licensees are servicing rural areas. The ATU has presented a submission to the provincial government advocating for a commitment that the new regulatory powers will not be used to interfere with Collective Agreement rights or free collective bargaining.

The Threat of Privatization Through Microtransit

Another way the Ford government has continued its attack on the transit industry is pushing transit agencies to use microtransit to make up for the shortfall on transit routes that were seeing a large drop in ridership. The Ford government wants to develop partnerships with private transportation providers like Uber who use internet technology to provide on-demand service.

Municipalities in Ontario will also be required to discuss “new governance structures” with private company, Metrolinx. Toronto Local 113 has been on the frontlines and will continue to fight the ongoing threat of privatization in the GTA region.

Right to Work in Alberta

The bosses have launched a campaign in Alberta. Their target is unionized workers. Their goals are to push wages down to the bare minimum for survival and jeopardize working conditions to what they were 100 years ago. They call this campaign of mass impoverishment ‘right-towork’. ATU Locals in Alberta are stepping up against this obvious attempt to reduce the collective power of workers. ATU Canada, ATU International and a number of Locals have donated resources to the legal fight being led by the Alberta Federation of Labour. On the ground, workers are forming committees to educate, inoculate and talk with their coworkers about this threat and why we need to unite as ‘right-to-work’ is rolled out in Canada.