OFL urges Mayor Andrea Horwath to oppose the privatization of Hamilton LRT
23 Abril 2024 - 1:39PM
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is calling on Mayor Andrea
Horwath to uphold the public interest by voting against the
proposed privatization of Hamilton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) line.
On April 24, the Hamilton City Council will vote on a 10-year
public-private partnership, aimed at outsourcing operations and
maintenance to a private contractor.
“Ontario unions have long supported Andrea Horwath
for her opposition to privatization, including her robust defence
of public services from the profit-driven agenda of Doug Ford’s
government “We fully expect her to uphold this principled
stance–and protect public services and the good union jobs that
sustain them.”
For 150 years, the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)
and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) have successfully operated
and maintained Hamilton’s transit system. “Given the proven
capabilities and track record of the HSR and ATU, there is
absolutely no justification for privatizing the Hamilton LRT,”
Walton added.
“Municipalities across Ontario have suffered enough
from flawed public-private partnerships, as seen in Ottawa and
Toronto. Privatization often compromises quality and safety for
supposed cost savings,” Walton continued.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto has
experienced 12 years of construction, billions in cost overruns,
and a lack of accountability. Similarly, the O-Train in Ottawa has
faced derailments, delivery delays, and severe operational issues,
along with numerous safety concerns.
“We must learn from these failures and prevent them
from happening again,” Walton added. The OFL reminds Hamilton City
Councillors of their 2017 commitment to keep the LRT public under
the HSR’s operation.
The labour movement calls on Mayor Horwath and the
City Council to do the right thing–keep transit public in Hamilton
to prevent placing an untenable financial burden on Hamiltonians
for years to come.
The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54
unions and one million workers in Ontario. It is the largest
provincial labour federation in Canada. Visit OFL.ca and follow
@OFLabour on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
For more information, please contact:
Jenny SellathuraiInterim Director of
CommunicationsOntario Federation of
Labourjsellathurai@ofl.ca | 416-894-3456
cj/COPE343