TORONTO – The union representing the employees of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) unveiled an aggressive social media marketing campaign aimed at informing Torontonians to the alleged importance of public, unionized public transit in Toronto.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, TTC union President Bob Kinnear unveiled a series of advertisements that will play both online and at movie theatres across Toronto, saying many people are unaware of the important role of TTC workers.
“The reason Local 113 has invited you here this morning is to announce the start of a public awareness campaign to introduce Torontonians to the 3,500 people behind the scenes at the TTC,” Kinnear said. “The TTC maintenance workers are one of the city’s greatest public assets but they are practically invisible.”
Get breaking National news
The launch of the public awareness campaign dubbed “Protecting what matters,” comes just weeks after the TTC voted to outsource approximately 150 cleaning jobs to the private sector.
The move to outsource the jobs will save the city approximately $1 million annually.
The TTC board has assured workers that no unionized worker will lose their job during the outsourcing. Rather, workers will be shifted to already vacant positions.
Kinnear, a vocal opponent of ongoing attempts to privatize transit in Toronto, disagrees with the board and suggests privatization will not save the TTC.
“Anyone that believes that the private sector will save transit in Toronto will get a rude awakening if they watch this video,” Kinnear said.
The TTC workers union, ATU Local 113, has also set up a website, Protectingwhatmatters.ca, and is giving away monthly TTC passes to draw people to the website.
Comments