"To say that my phone blew up the day that he was hired would be a vast understatement, said Vineberg, president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 279. The ensuing messages and phone calls came from members of ATU 113, the local for those same jobs at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He's going to make your job hard, one said. Doesn't respect collective agreements, said another."
"Marvin Alfred, who became president of ATU 113 in 2022 and still heads the local, said the relationship with Leary could be cordial and collaborative at times. But at others, it was unnecessarily adversarial. That was especially true during collective bargaining, he said, as his members almost went on strike. At those times of a heightened situation, I do admit that the relationship was extremely strained."
"Alfred said his members felt alienated, disheartened and ignored under Leary's leadership. He said they didn't feel management was listening when they flagged issues, including on maintenance and safety. Culture and morale did take a hit during Leary's tenure, he said."
Rick Leary's hiring as head of OC Transpo generated immediate concern from Toronto transit union leaders who worked with him during his seven years at the TTC. Union representatives reported a history of strained labour relations, frequent grievances, and deteriorated workplace morale under his leadership. While relationships could occasionally be cordial and collaborative, they were often unnecessarily adversarial, particularly during collective bargaining negotiations that nearly resulted in strikes. Beyond contract disputes, workers experienced broader issues including poor scheduling, inadequate working conditions, and insufficient transit system maintenance. Union members felt alienated, disheartened, and ignored, believing management dismissed their concerns about safety and maintenance issues.
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