Doug Ford says he’s “for the people,” but a union of TTC workers strongly disagrees.
CUPE Local 2, a union of roughly 650 electricians and technicians who install and maintain TTC services, believe the Premier of Ontario is “sabotaging” the city. Specifically, they believe Ford’s plans to “upload” Toronto’s subway system is a move towards privatization and will “undermine the public for the profits of a few.”
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As a result, CUPE Local 2 shared an open letter on Twitter this week advocating for free public transit and pushing for mass strikes.
“We know that transit fares gouge oppressed people the hardest,” they wrote. “They’re a tax on the working class and the poor. None of us should have to sacrifice hard earned money for food, rent or whatever else just to get to and from where we work and shop.”
The union noted that free public transit would boost the economy and “society as a whole.” To back up their argument, they referenced Estonia’s capital Tallinn, which successfully implemented free transit in 2013. Since then, the city’s economy has improved and congestion has been reduced.
READ: Believe It Or Not, The TTC Is Canada’s Best Public Transit System
Toronto certainly has its own gridlock problem, which has resulted in increased commute times over the years. Torontonians now spend an average of 84 minutes trying to get to and from work, according to a Forum Research poll last month.
CUPE Local 2 believes free transit can help ease Toronto’s traffic jams, and they are willing to put in the work to make this happen.
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“As a union, we are about something bigger than just our own members,” they said. “We are part of the labour movement. We stand for good jobs for all. With this call for free public transit, we reach out our hand to the poor and working people of this province.”
And as for mass strikes across Ontario? CUPE Local 2 believes this is “what it will take to bring down Doug Ford.”
READ: New Service Will Let You Pick Up Groceries From Select TTC Stations
On Twitter, some users were quick to applaud the union…
But one user made a good point about improving the TTC:
