January 26, 2012
Dear Councillor,
I am a former First Response Supervisor with the Toronto Transit Commission. During my tenure, I worked in the Streetcar Way, Track & Structure, Graphic Arts, and Revenue & Security Equipment Maintenance Departments. (The latter two being worked after being assaulted in the T & S Dept.)
My employment there was from 2004 to 2006, but it took me only 9 months to reach Supervisor of the Afternoon Emergency Utility Crew at Greenwood Yard.
I could close the subway down with one call to Transit Control. On more than one occasion, I had to place track restrictions or close it when I deemed it necessary. The first time I did this, I thought I might get fired, but quickly learned that it is a necessary choice under certain conditions. No handbook outlining these conditions exists so decisions had to be made on the spot! My work experience and Civil Engineering education, in conjunction with my crew's assistance, enabled me to make the right decisions. I still had people trying to give me bad advice in order that I error and look like a fool to my superiors. Fortunately for me, I come from a large family and have a knack for spotting deception. The worst culprit in particular was the same person who ended up replacing me on the afternoon shift...he had friends!
Having a small crew of typically 5 people, our job was to respond to any potential or real threats which could impede subway traffic from 3 - 11 PM. My superiors, in their wisdom, provided me with two rookies freshly hired...for a First Response Crew? One could barely walk without collapsing, due to a fear of heights, across the Bloor viaduct which is approximately 20 story's above Pottery Road. To make matters worse, where you walk is on a steel grate, which allows you to see the ground below. Recognizing their vulnerability and my crew's needs...these two were put on a fast track training course by me and they soon became an asset to us.
Our job included, but not exclusively on, fires, floods, suicides, and potential terrorist activity. Unauthorized at track level distress calls were a virtual daily event at that time and the London transit bombing killing 52 and injuring over 700 was a reality. I needed my crew to respond quickly, not haphazardly to any trouble call.
Certain parts of the subway tunnel allowed the air flow to suck the hard hat right off your head. Human instinct is to grab for it, but this could have deadly results. Tripping hazards are everywhere and 600 volts of direct current is waiting to greet anyone that falls onto the third rail.
A mock subway accident was staged to get all emergency personnel citywide the training and experience, but my crew was left out and yet we worked that day.
In a real catastrophe we would be the one's responding and coordinating the efforts!
In my short time working at the TTC, I have plenty of stories to tell which is why I am currently writing a book about this. A quickly assembled website was constructed at http://subwaywayne.blogspot.com to keep people apprised of my endeavour.
One might easily conclude that a track level trauma or injury would befall someone in this line of work, but as it turned out, it was an assault by three unionized workers when I returned to working the night shift. A superior of mine had instructed me to write up 9 workers for disciplinary reasons in spite of the fact that I was not their supervisor in charge that evening. Not having any choice (supervisors have no union protection) in the matter, I did as I was told albeit reluctantly. While distributing these letters near shift end (about 5:30 AM) I was assaulted by 3 individuals simultaneously. As traumatic as that was, the more shocking part was that my superiors initially did nothing. After a week or so these individuals were 'caught' and disciplined, but I was targeted for termination. I could not return to that poisoned working environment. In hindsight, I should have called the police immediately after the assault, but I trusted my superiors to discreetly handle matters.
Rather than moving me permanently to another department where I could remain a productive employee, I was eventually terminated!
During this process, I learned firsthand who was married to whom and who had friends in high places. My replacement on the afternoon shift was a union worker from Davisville Yard who was favoured by his boss, who had a friend at the Superintendent level.
Many employees have been caught stealing hundreds and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, but they would retain their job. One high ranking supervisor within the RSEM department, (Revenue and Security Equipment Maintenance Department) had asked me how to go about getting a pardon from his criminal record? This person is a trusted supervisor in the very department that handles all revenues and revenue generating equipment. He has access to the 'vault' and it's contents at virtually any time! He was in that position when I left in 2006 and I have no reason to believe he has left that position since, due to his seniority.
Rampant drug and alcohol abuse by union workers and supervisors alike...gambling problems and money borrowing could get you favour from certain superiors?
Superiors jealous of my education and their lack of one would write me up for fictitious events in order to tarnish my good name and future growth within the TTC. This occurred during my tenure at the TTC and there has been nothing done to curtail this conduct as far as I know. (I still have high ranking friends there.)
The sense of entitlement is almost sickening from what I witnessed of certain employees regardless of their rank.
A Mayor, a TTC Chairperson, or Chief General Manager can implement changes if desired, but things will likely revert back to the way it was after that person leaves their temporary position. After all, those in a position of authority are well connected at the TTC and far outlast the others. It reminds me of the mafia or J. Edgar Hoover with the FBI and his GOD complex, only this is within the Toronto Transit Commission.
Who is acting in the best interest of the employer...honestly?
These are just some of the reasons that have driven me to write my book. In doing so, I am including as much collaborating evidence as possible to back up my assertions. The most recent addition is a copy of the 2005 Sunshine List; http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/2006/ and 2010 Sunshine List, http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/2011/ respectively. These lists disclose information on employees who earn in excess of $100,000 a year. The 5 year time span between lists saw a jump of $100 million and almost 900 employees. These lists are provided by the Provincial government on an annual basis and I entered all the data into a spreadsheet computer program which allows for easy data manipulation according to my needs.
Check out my spreadsheet data for 2010 Numerical TTC Sunshine List here and 2005 Numerical TTC Sunshine List here.
Check out my spreadsheet data for 2010 Numerical TTC Sunshine List here and 2005 Numerical TTC Sunshine List here.
Upon doing so, I discovered 'gravy' and plenty of it!
One Operator alone made in excess of $130,000.00 in 2010 and a large number of Operators were also listed.
An extraordinary amount of transit security personnel made the list and far exceeded the annual earnings of a fully fledged police officer.
Cable/Telephone Technicians, Clerks, Assistant Forepersons, Forepersons, and so many others made this list. Spending has appeared to run out of control by Chief General Manager, Gary Webster and his ilk (long-time colleagues) and that is just on salaries. Excess budgetary funds have been diverted into other areas, such as snow removal...I know this because my superiors instructed me to do so rather than return the excess amounts. There are no checks and balances in place.
Human Resources should be renamed, "Who Are You Related To/Know Department”. The Human Rights Department renamed "My Husband Works In Another Department And If He Wants You Gone Then You Are History Department".
In the past year I have attempted to educate Mayor Ford of these issues, but either he or his handlers seem uninterested based upon their lack of enthusiasm. Plausible deniability is not an option any longer for his office, yet he proclaims he wants to know where the gravy is?
I will offer a copy of all emails if you request and I will attempt to enclose the 2010 Sunshine List with the other being readily available. To ensure accuracy, please feel free to verify my figures with those provided by the province using the links above.
The millions of taxpayers that help fund this transit system deserve a more responsible accounting of their hard earned dollars being spent...in such a carefree manner.
Regards,
Subway Wayne
