Toronto Star ePaper

TTC union wants to tackle jab hesitancy

BEN SPURR TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

TTC employees will soon be able to get their COVID-19 shots while at work, which the transit agency’s largest union says could help overcome vaccine hesitancy among some of its members.

TTC CEO Rick Leary announced Wednesday the organization will host its first workplace vaccination clinic Thursday morning at the McNicoll Bus Garage in Scarborough.

“Getting as many people vaccinated as soon as possible is an important piece of putting this pandemic behind us,” Leary said at a meeting of the TTC board.

The first clinic is being staged in partnership with the Scarborough Health Network, while Women’s College Hospital will hold two more vaccination drives at the TTC’s Mount Dennis facility on Friday and Saturday. Leary said the agency is hoping to schedule more workplace clinics in the coming weeks.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents about 12,000 of the TTC’s 16,000 workers, has been pushing for the agency to do more to ensure its employees can get their shot. In a statement Wednesday, Local 113 president Carlos Santos accused management of merely “doing the minimum.”

“We have been asking TTC for a vaccination plan since last year and are glad they finally acted,” he said.

In an interview before Leary’s announcement, Santos said workplace clinics could help convince the minority of employees who are on the fence about vaccines to get their shot.

“Some of our members have reached out to me and said, you know, I’m not interested in getting the vaccine,” Santos said, adding he doesn’t know how many workers are reluctant or what their reasons are.

“But if you make it available, then it gives them at least that opportunity to change their mind and potentially get that vaccine to make everybody safer,” he said.

THE ROLLOUT

en-ca

2021-05-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://torontostar.pressreader.com/article/281590948448916

Toronto Star Newspapers Limited