Transit workers union upset TTC employees were given number to adult chat line instead of support
Posted November 9, 2021 6:40 pm.
Last Updated November 9, 2021 6:56 pm.
The amalgamated transit union is calling for Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) CEO Rick Leary to step down in the wake of a ransomware attack that affected up to 25,000 current and former employees whose personal information was compromised.
The cyberattack jeopardized individual social insurance numbers, names and addresses stolen in the October 29 incident.
It was also revealed that employees were given the wrong number to contact support — and instead directed to an adult chat line.
ATU Canada National President John Di Nino calls it “incredibly frustrating and embarrassing.”
“I am a former TTC employee, and I was offered the same phone number, and I had it on speakerphone at my house, and my grandchildren heard it,” Di Nino told CityNews on Tuesday. “It was quite embarrassing — we were trying to react very quickly to ensure that our personal information was protected.”
Di Nino believes it’s the latest in a series of missteps that are affecting employee morale.
“We thought it was a joke,” he said. “This recent failure is yet another example of the sour relationship between management and local 113. This should not be happening to the people who kept and continue to keep Toronto moving throughout one of the most difficult times in the city’s history.”
TTC spokesperson Stuart Green tells CityNews they know the ATU has filed a grievance, but they’ve yet to receive it due to the email service being down. Green says once that problem is resolved, the TTC will release an official statement.
Leary said this week there is no evidence any of the details accessed in the ransomware have been misused. All transit officials know is that the compromised information was stored on some of the computer servers hit by the hack. The CEO said the commission is rebuilding the remaining servers and internal services, such as re-establishing email capabilities.
Di Nino says the cyberattack is proof it’s time for Leary to resign.
“There needs to be an extensive review of what happened with the ransomware attack [and] with the compromising of the workers’ personal information,” he said.
“We remain more resolute than ever in stressing that TTC commissioners take action and demand Leary to tender his resignation so that our workers can do their jobs keeping one of Canada’s biggest cities moving, without constantly worrying about a hostile work environment.”
With files from Neetu Seupersadsingh of CityNews
