Here is an update on the activities of ATU Canada over the past 2 weeks.
ATU Canada attended the CLC Canadian Council meeting in Ottawa. During the meeting an update was provided regarding the ongoing raiding of Unifor against UNITE HERE. Even with many locals protesting the actions of their National Body and demanding that they stop their actions and re-affiliate with the CLC, Unifor continues to raid and bash International unions. Up to now their efforts have been concentrated on UNITE HERE in Toronto. Unions across the country continue to condemn their actions and demand that should Unifor ever wish to return to the CLC it must return the members it has stolen from UNITE HERE. A bank robber doesn’t get to keep the money they’ve stolen when caught.
ATU Canada met with Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to discuss how and where the ATU members can assist. The party is providing us with the riding that are possible swing ridings and require extra attention. She again reiterated that the NDP has absolutely no interest in ever privatizing public transit and will do everything they can to ensure that the working class individuals in Ontario continue to receive great public services provided by good paying jobs with benefits and pensions. I have attached a letter from her answering the questions that ATU Canada posed to her Party. The PC’s and the Liberals both did not respond to our organizations questions. Their responses were to discuss the privatization of the TTC Subway lines.
ATU Canada will be holding a Keep Transit Public rally at Queens Park in Toronto on May 8th at 11:00 a.m. We would appreciate the Ontario locals sending out the rally flyer to our members. The more people we have at the rally the stronger our message will be. I have attached the flyer so please forward to as many people as possible. Feel free to follow us on Twitter at ATU Canada or the Keep Transit Public for additional information.
ATU Canada attended the International GEB at the Tommy Douglas Center last week. The International continues to offer support to Canada through a number of avenues. President Hanley encouraged me to remind the locals in Canada that should your local require training, to please contact the International and put in the request.
The final ATU Canada Conference call is being sent out today. If you haven’t done so, please register and book your rooms at the Delta as rooms are filling up fast.
Finally, if you haven’t signed the Driver Workplace E-Petition please do so ASAP. The petition closes on May 9th and we want as many names on that petition as possible. Please share the link below with members, friends and family. We owe it to our present and future members to do everything we can to ensure their safety.
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1437
Should you have any questions or require assistance. Please feel free to contact me.
I remain yours in solidarity,
Paul Thorp
President
ATU Canada
Click On image below for full PDF version
