Transit union calls on TTC to do more to protect its members after operator assaulted
A union representing frontline Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) workers is speaking out about the need for better protection for its members after an operator was allegedly attacked in Etobicoke.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 says a female operator was assaulted and robbed by a masked male while on duty at the Long Branch Loop in Etobicoke at around 10 a.m. on Monday.
The TTC confirmed the incident took place and that the operator had their phone stolen.
“While obviously shaken, the operator, thankfully, reported not being physically harmed,” the TTC said in a statement to CP24.com.
“Safety is paramount to all the TTC does and we have offered the operator counseling and peer supports as they process and recover from this incident.”
Both the TTC and ATU say Toronto police are investigating the incident, however police have not provided any suspect information.
ATU Local 113 says it’s the second attack on a TTC worker in less than a week and it’s calling on the TTC “to do more to prevent all forms of violence towards transit workers.”
“Any violent attack on a worker at their job is a tragedy. The fact that they happen again and again is a catastrophe,” the union said in a statement to CP24.com.
“We have seen throughout the pandemic tensions rising and conflict becoming increasingly common and more serious. Workers have a right to be able to perform their jobs free from fear of violence and harassment.”
The TTC says it takes every report of assault and abuse seriously, adding that it will continue to work with union partners in joint health and safety committees, where assault mitigation is regularly addressed.
“We currently have safety barriers, cameras, radio and non-audio equipment (push-button alerts) on every vehicle to assist in prevention, deterrence and response,” the TTC said.
“We also have a court advocacy program that helps in securing convictions and stronger sentences for anyone involved in a crime on a TTC employee.”
ATU Local 113 says their highest priority is “consistent and proper enforcement” for those who commit acts of violence or harassment on the TTC, with an increased focus on communication and coordination with TTC special constables to “aid with deterrence and detection.”
The union says it convinced the TTC to create a comprehensive safety strategy earlier this year after a string of violent attacks on transit operators in the city.
For its part, the TTC says it has implemented new strategies based on operator feedback to enhance safety for workers and riders alike.
“As a result of COVID-19, we have redesigned and installed larger operator barriers and as part of continuous improvement, we are prototyping other shield designs based on operator feedback,” the TTC said.
“This is an example of how, working with input from frontline staff, we are improving safety for bus operators in particular who do not work in fully enclosed cabs.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.