TTC Public Meeting
Posted April 11, 2010 6:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The TTC held the first in a series of three public meetings Sunday.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 organized the town halls to improve customer service and hear from riders after a series of embarrassing incidents engulfed Toronto’s “better way.”
“I think as human being we all make mistakes. I think what’s important is that we recognize the mistakes…We have to do better as the frontline employees in delivering the services we do,” said ATU president Bob Kinnear.
In January, a scandal exploded over a widely published photo of a TTC ticket collector sleeping on the job.
Since then, Toronto’s transit commission has weathered a much-maligned fare hike, a series of service disruptions, video of a bus driver taking an extended break, and the suspension of another after failing a breathalyzer.
Kinnear has been widely criticized for his brash management style, after lashing out in February against the public and the media.
“Stop the video stalking of drivers when they stop for a washroom break,” he said then.
But people at Sunday’s meeting were presented with a kinder, gentler Kinnear.
“We recognize, and quite frankly by my statements as well, that they were not helping the situation…I make no apologies for defending my membership, but we do recognize it was not helping the situation,” said Kinnear.
Perhaps the most notable scandal the TTC faced was the very public downfall of its chair Adam Giambrone.
While Giambrone didn’t comment on his failed mayoral campaign, he did acknowledge the challenges the TTC is facing.
“It’s hard to force politeness; it’s hard to force good humour. You can have regulations and of course we do, but its encouraging people are willing to have this dialogue. I’m hoping good feelings come of that,” Giambrone said.
The meetings, held on April18 and May 2 are all being broadcast on Rogers TV, cable 10 and streamed live on the union’s website. The TTC is covering the transportation costs and providing free shuttle buses to the events from nearby subway stations.
Meeting Details:
April 18, Stephen Leacock Collegiate (Birchmount Road and Sheppard Avenue)
May 2, Ryerson Library (Yonge Street and Dundas Street)
