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All material and information provided on the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587 (“ATU 1587”) website is solely for information purposes. It is not intended to be workplace advice. You should contact a Union Representative prior to making any decisions. Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587 does not warrant the quality, accuracy, or completeness of any information on our website. This website may contain inaccuracies or typographical errors.

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E-mail communication transmissions to Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587 or to an officer or staff member of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587, or receipt of such communications facilitated by this website are not intended to create or constitute a privileged relationship.

Transmissions Not Confidential

Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587 does not guarantee the confidentiality of the content of any e-mail transmissions. If you wish to provide confidential information to one of our Union Representatives, you should do so by contacting them by telephone or in person.

Collection of Personal Information

By providing personal information to Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 via this website you agree to its collection and use by any Union Representative, staff member or authorized agents of ATU 1587.

Trademarks and Endorsements

ATU 1587 logos are trademarks of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587. Any product names or other marks mentioned on this website are trademarks of their respective owners. Reference to third party information, products or services on this or any linked website is not an endorsement by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587.

Copyright

Copyright by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587 is asserted over the contents of this website.

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Meeting Info

The Warden shall take charge of the door of the meeting room and shall see that only members or guests authorized by the Executive Board are allowed to enter. He shall direct members to sign the Register of Attendance and shall extend those courtesies, and exercise that authority necessary for proper supervision of admission to the meetings of the Local Union.

The Register of Attendance shall be closed by the President/Business Agent thirty (30) minutes after the meeting begins and no member or guest shall be entitled to sign after the Register is closed.

Quorum

Twenty (20) members at a General Meeting, exclusive of the President, Vice-President & Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall constitute a quorum to do business.

Types of Meetings

There shall be two types of meetings – Regular General and Special.

a) Regular General Meetings

The Regular General Meetings shall be held on the second Sunday of every month at 10 a.m. or as designated by the Executive Board. The meeting will be held at the place designated by the Executive Board.

b) Special Meetings

The Special Meetings may be held at the discretion of the President/Business Agent who in doing so shall act on the authority of the Executive Board or by petition in writing signed by one-third or more of the members.

Duration of Meetings

Duration of meetings shall not exceed three (3) hours. Only by a motion and a majority vote of the members present may the length of the meeting be extended.

Postponement or Cancellation of a Meeting

a) The meeting called for a certain time at a certain place and the number of members necessary for a quorum not being present at fifteen (15) minutes after the time at which the meeting was to have been called to order shall be cancelled.

b) In the event that no meeting is held for lack of a quorum, actions of the Executive Board, which would have been reported to the membership at that meeting, shall become final and binding upon the Local Union without further by the membership.

Duration of Speech During Debate

The duration of any speech by any member upon any question at any meeting shall not exceed three (3) minutes except with permission of the chairperson. No member shall speak more than once on any subject until all members have received an opportunity to be heard.

Notice of Motion

A Notice of Motion must be submitted in writing at any General Meeting of the Local Union on the designated form (available from the Financial Secretary-Treasurer or Warden). Such Notice of Motion to be read and laid on the table until the next General Meeting, to be posted, and resolved by the vote of the members present. A two-thirds majority of the members voting is necessary to adopt any motion to change the By-Laws or the dues structure.

Order of Business for Local Union Meetings

The Constitution and Local Union By-Laws and Roberts’ Rules of Order shall be used as a guide to conduct any and all meetings. The following order is generally to be followed at meetings:

1. Call to Order by the chairperson
2. Roll call of Officers, Board Members, Shop Stewards, and Warden
3. Reading of the minutes of previous meeting
4. Communications
5. President’s Report
6. Report of Grievance Officer and Board Members
7. Report of Delegates
8. Report of Committees
9. Unfinished business
10. New business and welfare of the Local Union
11. Nominations for the Election of Officers
12. Installation of Officers
13. Financial Report
14. Adjournment

ATU 1587 Logo

Welcome Member

We Move Ontario...

Welcome to the New ATU1587 Website!

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Check back often for updates and REGISTER for member access!!

About Us

About Us

Our Proud History…

The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labour union representing transit and allied workers in North America.

Founded in 1892 with the certification of streetcar workers in the USA, The Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America’s first office was located in Detroit, Michigan. Throughout the years the Amalgamated Association grew throughout the USA and Canada. In 1964 the name was changed to the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Today, the ATU represents over 200,000 members with 240 locals in 9 provinces and 46 states.

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In 1982, the ATU Canadian Council was created. The Council represented the interests of employees of various Canadian transit systems including municipal, provincial, and private employers.

In 2015 the Canadian Council became ATU Canada, and for the first time, represented all Canadian ATU locals.

ATU Canada’s mandate includes political advocacy, strategic planning, coalition building and organizing unrepresented workers throughout Canada.

Our Local…

Local 1587 has a long and honoured history in Ontario.

We were certified in 1979 as the bargaining unit for GO Transit - today, a division of Metrolinx.

Local 1587 represents more than 2300 Metrolinx employees and retirees across the G.T.H.A. including drivers, station ambassadors, office and professional staff, mechanics, plant personnel and transit safety officers.

Local 1587 is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress, the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Toronto and York Region Labour Council.

Know Your Rights!

Your Rights and Discussions with Supervisors

A member has a right to say:

"If this discussion could in anyway lead to my being disciplined or terminated or cause an effect on my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at this meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to participate in this discussion."

If you are unsure about a conversation you have had with your supervisor, or you have been asked to participate in a discussion with management about your work performance, contact a Shop Steward, Board Member or Union Office.

Your Right to Refuse Unsafe Work

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, section 43(3), an Employee may refuse work where he or she has reason to believe that there is a danger to health or safety.

(3) A worker may refuse to work or do particular work where he or she has reason to believe that,
(a) any equipment, machine, device or thing the worker is to use or operate is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker;
(b) the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is likely to endanger himself or herself;
(b.1) workplace violence is likely to endanger himself or herself; or
(c) any equipment, machine, device or thing he or she is to use or operate or the physical condition of the workplace or the part thereof in which he or she works or is to work is in contravention of this Act or the regulations and such contravention is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1, s. 43 (3); 2009, c. 23, s. 4 (2).
(4) Upon refusing to work or do particular work, the worker shall promptly report the circumstances of the refusal to the worker’s employer or supervisor who shall forthwith investigate the report in the presence of the worker…”

You have the right to refuse unsafe work. USE IT!

 

For more information, contact your Shop Steward or Executive Board Member.

You can also find more information about Health and Safety by logging into the Members Section.

Your Rights and Absences

At some point, every employee will be unable to attend work. This may be because you are sick or for other reasons. You have different benefit entitlements, rights and obligations depending on the nature of your absence.

It is important to know your rights!

Sick Leave

If you are sick and unable to work, you may be eligible for Short Term Disability under Article B6 of the Collective Agreement.

The Employer cannot discipline you for being sick!

However, you must comply with the Collective Agreement requirements for a Medical Certificate.

Personal Emergency Leave

If you are unable to work because of an injury or death of a close relative, certain emergencies, or other urgent matters, you have the right to take up to 10 days of job-protected leave each calendar year due to. This is known as Personal Emergency Leave. The Employer cannot discipline you for taking Personal Emergency Leave, but you must notify the employer and provide reasonable documentation in support of the absence. Further details regarding Personal Emergency Leave can be found on the Ontario Government Website.

Absence for Other Reasons

If you are unable to work for another reason, you may be entitled to a leave of absence. However, such a leave of absence should be requested and approved by the Employer. Failing to request a leave of absence or failing to attend work where the absence isn’t covered by illness or Personal Emergency Leave can result in discipline. You should contact your Union Representative prior to making any request for a leave of absence to discuss your rights and obligations.

If you have any questions about absences from work, please contact your Steward, Board Member, or the Union Office at 416-695-3896 or contactus@atu1587.ca.

Membership Login

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register

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We will link your information with ours.
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Note: email accounts that include metrolinx.com or gotransit.com are not accepted.


If you are having difficulty registering please contact the site administrator at admin@atu1587.ca.

Local ATU 1587 Contract Survey

It’s time to begin negotiating our collective bargaining agreement (contract), which expires on June 1st, 2022. Our union contract is the most important document in our working lives. It establishes our wages, benefits, and working conditions. As a union member, your involvement in this process is essential for our success.

To win the best contract possible, we need to identify the issues for which members are most willing to fight. The results of this survey will guide our Local Union bargaining committee. It will determine what demands we make and which proposals we put on the table.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and return this survey to one of your Shop Stewards or a member of the Contract Action Team.

Personal Information

Employment Information

Days Off:







Survey Questions

1. Do you know who your steward is and how to reach them?

2. Do you feel the contract prevents management from creating unnecessary work rules?

3. Arrange the priorities by changing the values to their left.

  • 1. Wage Increases
  • 2. Contacting Out
  • 3. Health Insurance
  • 4. Retirement
  • 5. Scheduling and Picks
  • 6. Sick and Vacation Leave
  • 7. Health and Safety Issues
  • 8. Break Time
  • 9. Discipline Procedure
  • 10. Other

4. Do you work overtime to make ends meet?

5. Do you work a second job to make ends meet?

6. How would you rate management’s concern for the workers?

7. Do you feel you will be able to retire comfortably under your current retirement plan?

8. Are you aware of any maintenance problems with buses in the fleet?

If so, please provide specific details and bus numbers

9. If trained by the union, are you willing to volunteer time to talk to your coworkers about participating in union actions related to the contract?

To publicly support our campaign, I am willing to:

Wear buttons/stickers/t-shirts
Attend Board meetings/rallies
Sign a petition
Pass out leaflets/materials to my co-workers
Call my co-workers on the phone
Join the Contract Action Team and talk to my co-workers
Participate in informational pickets or demonstrations

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPOSALS

Do you have other ideas to recommend for contract negotiations? Make them here!

Subject of your proposal (generally):

Summary of idea for contract proposal:

What, if anything, has changed or worsened at your facility in recent years that you would like to win back or improve in a union contract?

Health And Safety

Worker Right To Refuse
STOP The Violence!
Preventing Heat Stroke
ATU JHSC

Covid

An excerpt from a letter from our legal team regarding vaccine prioritization.

 

 

Collective Agreement

Collective Agreement
Download

Archive

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Officer and Executive Board Candidate Information

Click on each candidate to see their campaign information.

  • President
    • Broeze, Christine
    • Cormier, Rob
    • Frederick, Marius
  • Vice-President
    • Bean, Allan
    • Cole, Michael
    • Edson, John
    • Gironda, Michael
    • Lembo, Joe
  • Financial Secretary/Treasurer
    • Eskarous, Ashraf
    • Pashalis, Jonathan
    • Smithson, Jackie
    • Wong, Wil
  • Bus Operations West
    • Jost, Simon
    • Peikos, Danny
  • Bus Operations East
    • Pritchard, Michael
    • Trotter, Nicole
    • Walters, Derek
  • Station Customer Service Delivery
    • Borrens, Chatherine
    • Van Marrum, Justin
  • Office Financial Professional Technical
    • Baski, Gabe
    • Lehman, Richard
  • Transit Safety
    • Arbuckle, Scott
    • Netzke, Kyle
  • Fleet Maintenance
    • Brady, Ralston
    • Seera, Vinny
    • Thomas, Murad
  • Plant Maintenance
    • Arosemena, Eric
    • Aquino, Sam
    • Gatehouse, David
    • Sambath, Rowin

This content has been provided by each respective candidate.
ATU1587 does not take any responsibility for the content and does not necessarily endorse or share any views or opinions.

Rob Cormier
Marius Frederick
Christine Broeze
Michael Cole
Joseph Lembo
Allan Bean
John Edson
Danny Peikos
Nicole Trotter
Vinny Seera
Rowin Sambath
Eric Arosemena
Jonathan Pashalis
Jackie Smithson
Richard Lehman

ByLaws & Constitution

Notices & Postings

Archive


 

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Updates for Negotiations 2022

Archive


2021 Meeting Dates

Upcoming

Meeting Info

Meeting Dates
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Wallpaper

FREE! Downloadable wallpaper for your computer's desktop. Comes in multiple sizes.

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Store

To purchase items please contact the Union Office or your Board Member, Thank you.

Baseball Cap

Baseball Cap

Colour: Bone with Embroidered logo, one size

$17.00

Acrylic Knit Toque

Acrylic Knit Toque

Beanie Style with embroidered logo, one size

$6.00

Mens Classic fit Heavyweight 100% Cotton T-Shirt

Mens Classic fit Heavyweight 100% Cotton T-Shirt

Heather Grey Available in M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL.

$16.00

Womens Organic Cotton Blend T-Shirt

Womens Organic Cotton Blend T-Shirt

Heather Grey, Available in S, M, L, XL.

$19.00

Contigo Thermal Traveler

Contigo Thermal Traveler

16 oz. Double Wall Stainless Steel Tumbler with Vacuum Insulation, "Snapseal" threaded lid and silicone grip.

$32.00

22oz Squeeze Water Bottle

22oz Squeeze Water Bottle

available in 4 colours.

$4.00

AA Mini Maglite

"AA" Mini Maglite

Comes packaged in a black presentation box with 2 batteries and spare bulb in the tail cap. Water & Shock resistant.

$32.00

Mouse Pad

Mouse Pad

7 1/4" x 8 1/2" Vinyl with rubber backing.

$9.00

Die-Struck Key Chain

Die-Struck Key Chain

$7.00

Executive Metal Stylus Pen

Executive Metal Stylus Pen

With Push-Down Cap and Pocket Clip.

$6.00

Ceramic Mug 12 oz.

Ceramic Mug 12 oz.

$5.00

News

Union Reps & Committees

Executive Board

Rob Cormier
Rob Cormier
President
416 695-3896
president@atu1587.ca
Jackie Smithson
Jackie Smithson
Financial Secretary-Treasurer
416 695-3896
financial@atu1587.ca
Michael Cole
Michael Cole
Vice-President & Grievance Officer
416 695-3896
vicepresident@atu1587.ca
Simon Jost
Simon Jost
Executive Board, Bus Operations
416 953-6658
bow@atu1587.ca
Nicole Trotter
Nicole Trotter
Executive Board, Bus Operations
289 355-3585
boe@atu1587.ca
Cathy Borrens
Cathy Borrens
Executive Board, Station Attendants
416 276-3850
sa@atu1587.ca
Rick Lehman
Rick Lehman
Executive Board, Office Financial Professional Technical
416 347-6145
ofpt@atu1587.ca
Kyle Netzke
Kyle Netzke
Executive Board, Transit Enforcement
519 575-3018
te@atu1587.ca
Murad Thomas
Murad Thomas
Executive Board, Fleet Maintenance
416 999-2025
fm@atu1587.ca
David Gatehouse
David Gatehouse
Executive Board, Plant Maintenance
416 278-3703
pm@atu1587.ca

Shop Stewards

Committees

Coming Soon...

Update My Info

Note: email accounts that include metrolinx.com or gotransit.com are not accepted.


Wins, Challenges & Grievances

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The Challenge… OnCorr

Grievance Filed: March 2021

Recently Metrolinx announced that, as part of its GO Expansion initiative, the OnCorr program (short for On-Corridor Works) will take over the Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance of several key existing and new GO facilities, including the Willowbrook Rail Maintenance Facility.

The OnCorr program is currently in the tendering phase and will eventually be awarded to a consortium of companies; this group of companies is referred to as “Project Co.”

In March 2021 ATU1587 filed a policy grievance against Metrolinx arguing that the work to be assumed by Project Co. is 1587 bargaining unit work, and that OnCorr contravenes, among other things, Letter of Agreement #3 and Article 27 of the Collective Agreement.

OnCorr represents a significant risk to our members, and we are committed to continuing our fight against all forms of contracting out, including Public / Private Partnerships.

We will keep you up to date as the grievance process advances or as more information becomes available.

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Bill 124: CHARTER CHALLENGE

Legal Proceeding Commenced...

ATU1587 has joined 40 other unions in a Charter challenge against Bill 124, the so called “Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act”.

This Bill, which received Royal Assent in November 2019, will essentially limit annual increases to a total of 1%, including wages and cost of benefits.

The coalition of approx. 270,000 Ontario workers, led by the Ontario Federation of Labour, filed the application in 2020 with affidavits filed in February 2021, and is arguing that the Bill breaches the right to collective bargaining as protected in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Court dates are expected late in 2021 and we will update the membership throughout the process or as new information arises.

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A WIN for 1587! UP EXPRESS

March 2021

After years of hard-fought litigation, we are pleased to announce that ATU1587 has reached a settlement with Metrolinx and will now be representing several employees at UP Express.

This is an important win for our local and, for the first time, extends our bargaining rights at Metrolinx beyond GO Transit.

We are currently in a similar fight for positions at PRESTO with arbitration concluding summer of 2021.

Stay tuned...

In Memoriam