ATU COVID-19 Command and Response Hotlines! These hotlines serve as a place rank-and-file ATU members can get more information on the union’s response to COVID-19 and leave messages. If you have questions about your employer’s policies or are seeking assistance to deal with your employer on COVID-19 issues, please contact your Local Union’s Business Agent. Any messages will be followed up on by an ATU organizer or representative as soon as possible.

Dear Ministers, Thank you for your dedication during this public health emergency. I am the President of ATU Canada and on behalf of our 34,000 transit workers in this country I am writing to voice our priorities during the COVID-19 crisis. We want to maintain open dialogue with decision-makers and ensure frequent communication to best serve transit workers and the public. Here is an update on what ATU Canada is doing during this crisis.

TORONTO, MARCH 17—The President of Canada’s largest transit union is releasing a set of demands to weather the novel coronavirus crisis, including payroll subsidies for all transit agencies and contractors.

AIRDRIE, ALBERTA, MARCH 9-- A large majority of bus operators who drive in and out of the City of Airdrie voted to join the Amalgamated Transit Union. These bus drivers do the vital work of moving commuters to school, stores and to their jobs in Airdrie and Calgary.

TORONTO, MARCH 5-- ATU Canada, in conjunction with ATU International, release the following statement regarding COVID-19. *Please see the resources page for links that may be helpful: https://www.atucanada.ca/members-resources/covid-19

ST. THOMAS, JANUARY 14—Employees at St. Thomas are the newest group to join the Amalgamated Transit Union. Bus operators in St. Thomas, Ontario voted on Tuesday afternoon to unionize with the ATU local 1415.

TORONTO, JANUARY 9-- The Canadian President of the largest transit union in the country is echoing the call for increased safety infrastructure in Thunder Bay, Ontario where a bus operator was brutally assaulted on Boxing Day during a fare dispute.

LETHBRIDGE, NOVEMBER 27—The president of the Lethbridge transit union is sending a strong message to City Council over their decision to divest the city’s school bus division.

WINNIPEG, OCTOBER 31- On the first anniversary of the shutdown of Greyhound Canada services in Western Canada, ATU Canada is calling on the federal government to come forward with a renewed and vibrant vision for intercity public transit. John Di Nino, President ATU Canada, launched the national campaign today in Winnipeg, with support from ATU President John Costa.

TORONTO, OCTOBER 29— The Amalgamated Transit Union Canada says the 2019 budget in Alberta throws transit projects into turmoil. “By breaking their promises to maintain transit infrastructure spending, the Alberta government led by Jason Kenney has created chaos,” said ATU Canada President John Di Nino. “The party platform said they would maintain the existing plans on major transit projects, but once elected the UCP revoked that pledge.”