Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966
201-212 Miles St. E. P7C 1J6 Thunder Bay, ON, Canada

Today’s article on TBNewswatch.com

On February 18, 2021 your Executive sent the following letter to the Mayor and City Councilors regarding the move back to full service.

Press Release: TRUDEAU’S DAILY ANNOUNCEMENT - June 1st HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT TO TRANSIT AGENCIES FACING CUTS OR CLOSURES AND MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT read it here: https://www.atucanada.ca//trudeau-s-daily-announcement-hug

https://youtu.be/UVbWYf_LNnM

OMERS IS ATTACKING YOUR PENSION! PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND JOIN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR PLAN. Omers is planning to eliminate indexing from your plan. Even if you do not belong to this plan it is important as this could set precedence for other plans. We would also like to thank President Fred Hahn from CUPE Ontario for communicating with ATU and fighting for our members as well. The link provided is a link to the CUPE petition as they are doing the heavy lifting f...or us. They represent more than 45% of the plan membership. They also have seats at the table. https://932.cupe.ca/2020/05/20/defend-your-omers/

Press Release: TRUDEAUS DAILY ANNOUNCEMENT - June 1st HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT TO TRANSIT AGENCIES FACING CUTS OR CLOSURES AND MILLIONS OF CANADIANS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT read it here: https://www.atucanada.ca//trudeau-s-daily-announcement-hug

Its time for Thunder Bay to get on board and implement this. Businesses are opening up, ridership is increasing and social distancing is impossible to achieve on buses. Make face coverings mandatory for the health and safety of all Transit Users and Staff. Government of Canada Website: Road Motor carriers and bus operators have a number of measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. This includes, for example, physical distancing through rear-boarding... of the buses, and barriers to separate the driver and passengers. Building on these measures, in collaboration with provinces and territories, Transport Canada is recommending a number of voluntary measures to further reduce the risk of transmission. These voluntary measures apply to motor carriers and bus operators, and include that they: Consider notifying passengers when purchasing their pass/ticket at the counter or online that they should wear non-medical masks or face coverings for the entire duration of their travel, and to follow recommendations from Public Health officials (e.g. stay home, physical distancing, hand-washing); Remind passengers that they should consider wearing non-medical masks or face coverings to avoid putting the safety of others at risk. Where operationally feasible and appropriate, confirm with passengers prior to boarding that they are aware that wearing a non-medical mask or face covering can reduce the spread of infectious respiratory droplets. If operationally feasible and appropriate, some motor carriers and transit operators may consider denying boarding to passengers who refuse to wear face coverings without a valid justification. Thunder Bay District Health Unit City of Thunder Bay - Municipal Government, Ontario, Canada

CALL TODAY! Transit systems across Canada face service cuts. Time for Justin Trudeau and FordNation to provide emergency transit funding! (scroll down for a pho...ne script) Take action: 1) Sign the petition: www.keeptransitmoving.ca/take-action 2) Share a selfie & your story about why we need to #KeepTransitMoving 3) CALL PM TRUDEAU NOW! 613-992-4211 4) Share this post! SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT: Hi, my name is [_________] and I live in [YOUR FEDERAL RIDING]. I am calling about the transit funding crisis. I urge you to provide emergency and permanent transit funding. This is important to me because... [PERSONALIZE YOUR MESSAGE or use some of these ideas]: - I use transit to get to work. - Essential workers rely on transit to get to work and it must be safe. - We need more service so riders can be physically distant. - Public transit is critical to a green and fair economic recovery. - Public transit is vital to help Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - Cities are warning they will have to cut or even outright suspend transit service. I would appreciate a call-back about this issue. Thank you. -- If you have time to make a 2nd or 3rd phone call, especially if the Prime Ministers voicemail is full, please find your local MPs phone number here and call them with the same message! https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en (type in your postal code and click on your MP) Find your provincial MPPs phone number to make the same call! https://www.ola.org/en/members (scroll down to search by postal code)

https://www.atucanada.ca/covid-19/federal-funding-petition

Today, the Government of Canada announced a new web-based portal to help Canadians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic get access to government benefits quickly and effectively. https://covid-benefits.alpha.canada.ca/en/start

Thank you to everyone who helped out. Another successful year.

PUBLIC TRANSIT NEEDS EMERGENCY FUNDING NOW! Most people dont understand why transit is in crisis. Help raise awareness - watch this video like and share.

Press Release: Greyhound Shuts Down while Feds look the other way. read it here...https://www.atucanada.ca//greyhound-shuts-down-while-feds-

NDP MP Taylor Bachrach asks PM Trudeau why the federal government is failing to act when municipalities are in financial chaos and transit systems are laying off employees.

The City has developed an Employee Spotlight Series at www.thunderbay.ca/EmployeeSpotlight to highlight employees providing essential services during the pandem...ic. Different employees will be regularly featured who will describe what its like working during COVID-19. Read more: https://bit.ly/2SpHN0Y See more

Continuing to feed our frontline workers and community. This week we had the pleasure to feed the Thunder Bay city transit operators.

Happy International Workers Day!

Letter to Liberal MPs in Ottawa Transit workers ask Liberal MPs: where are you? Read it here: https://www.atucanada.ca//atu_canada_-_letter_to_gta_liber

Shameful! Doug Ford slipping into his usual way of governing.!

Here are tips for wearing masks correctly to protect you and others from COVID-19. Learn more by visiting https://www.atu.org/covid-19 and go to the Safe Service Now section.

Community Address with Mayor Bill Mauro, April 14 - Mayor talks about safety in City facilities and services.

https://www.facebook.com/585588625121972/posts/1125513751129454/

OUR LIST OF DEMANDS FROM EVERY PROVINCE TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS Letters went out yesterday to Premiers and Ministers in every province with a list of demands t...o protect all transit workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Click to see detailed list of demands: https://www.atucanada.ca//atu_canada_-_covid-19_provincial Click to see letters to the Provinces: Alberta https://www.atucanada.ca//alberta_-_atu_canada_-_letter_of British Columbia https://www.atucanada.ca//british_columbia_-_atu_canada_-_ Manitoba https://www.atucanada.ca//manitoba_-_atu_canada_-_letter_o New Brunswick https://www.atucanada.ca//new_brunswick_-_atu_canada_-_let Newfoundland and Labrador https://www.atucanada.ca//newfoundland_labrador_-_atu_cana Nova Scotia https://www.atucanada.ca//nova_scotia_-_atu_canada_-_lette Ontario https://www.atucanada.ca//ontario_-_atu_canada_-_letter_of Quebec https://www.atucanada.ca//quebec_-_atu_canada_-_letter_of_ Saskatchewan https://www.atucanada.ca//saskatchewan_-_atu_canada_-_lett

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus introduced to humans for the first time. It is spread from person to person mainly through the dro...plets produced when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes. Watch this short animation to learn more about COVID-19 and how to protect yourself against it.

Canadas Transit Union Statement on City of Windsor Bus Closure March 27, 2020 TORONTOJohn Di Nino, President of Amalgamated Transit Union, Canada (ATU Canada...) released the following statement regarding todays news and comments made by the City of Windsors Mayor, Drew Dilkens. People in positions of power should not use COVID-19 to further their agenda or settle a score. The Mayor may have an issue with the push back he received from the ATU over the use of non-transit workers to clean buses - but the Union was merely protecting its members rights. This is an anti-union reprisal at the worst possible time. The Mayor broke his oath of office, to continue delivering public services to its taxpayers. ATU transit workers have continued work above and beyond and around the clock to disinfect transit buses and provide the transit service their community desperately needs. Windsor transit workers are demanding the immediate reinstatement of service. An abrupt decision by the Mayor to shut down Transit Windsor, without consultation and with only 30 minutes advance notice left thousands of people who rely on public transit stranded, including critical workers in essential services, vulnerable passengers, and public transit employees. The Mayor has acted against the advice of the Chief Health Officers for the Province and Country and he is encouraging people to pitch in by helping transit-reliant neighbours with rides and errands. This is clearly against the social distancing being urged by all levels of government. While we are all feeling the effects of COVID-19, politicians should always be held accountable to act in the best interest of the people they serve in this case, those who rely on transit as a means of transportation and public transit workers who have been working around the clock and have a right to work as per their collective agreement. https://www.atucanada.ca//canada-s-transit-union-statement

City bus drivers worried influx of riders, many of whom are not practicing physical distancing, taking advantage of free fares are putting them at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. http://ow.ly/fgHx50yWjYr #tbay

Anxiously awaiting a response from Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health. I wrote to her yesterday before two ATU members tested positive to COVID 19. Click on ATU Canada link below to find out the truth about Metrolinx!

Amalgamated Transit Union 1505 calls on Winnipeg Transit to implement rear door boarding, fare free policy immediately Winnipeg- The Amalgamated Transit Union 1...505 called on Winnipeg Transit to immediately bring in a rear boarding policy to protect front line bus operators during COVID-19. The ATU has also requested that Transit suspend fare collection and clearly articulate to the public policies regarding social distancing and public transit, which Transit has so far neglected to do. Both rear door boarding and a fare free policy would minimize potential contact between the operator and the riding public and allow social distancing upon boarding. Weve brought this issue up multiple times over the last few weeks and we keep hearing that were going to get an answer on it, said James Van Gerwen, ATU Vice President. Frankly, were sick of waiting for the City to be one of the last transit departments in the country to protect their front line workers. Transits director must take a proactive approach in protecting their front line operators. If Winnipeg Transit chose to follow the lead of countless other transit agencies by implementing rear door boarding, they would be joining other cities across Canada in this policy change during COVID-19, including but not limited to: Vancouver, Calgary, BC Transit (provincial crown corporation), Montreal, Toronto, Regina, Ottawa, North Bay, Brandon, Victoria, Saskatoon, Cape Breton, Edmonton, Nanaimo, Kingston, Peterborough, Timmins, St. Johns, Halifax, Hamilton, Mississauga and Guelph. Were tired of watching other cities act while Winnipeg Transit is still considering their options, said Van Gerwen. The best time for Transit to act on this was last week. The second best time is right now. -30-

Stand with Canadian transit workers! Call on Parliament to provide the highest possible level of direct emergency funding to public transit agencies. Transit w...orkers are on the front lines. They need pay and protection to stay on the job. Sign the petition now by using this link below! Then share with your friends and family. Together We Fight Together We Win! https://actionnetwork.org//stand-with-canadian-transit-wor

Q: Is wearing rubber gloves while out in the public effective in preventing the new coronavirus infection? A: No. Regularly washing your bare hands offers more protection against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.

We thank Alisson Becker, our Goodwill Ambassador, for taking part in the #SafeHands challenge and supporting the global COVID-19 response. Together, for a safer world.

The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about COVID-19 can cause anyone to feel worried. Get the FACTS; not the rumors and misinformation. Facts can help to minimize fear.