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Toronto Transit Commission Board

2026-08-05 · 2 stories from 2 items · watch

What we covered

transit

Misleading record

TTC must reinstate eight workers and revise drug-testing policy after arbitrator rules random testing unlawful

An arbitrator has ordered the TTC to reinstate eight employees and struck down the transit agency's random drug and alcohol testing policy as implemented. The board voted 5-3 to accept this decision, which removes a safety tool the TTC had relied on and requires the agency to negotiate a compliant testing regime with the union.

The record says: “The board voted 5-3 to 'adopt the action taken in camera' and authorize confidential appendices to remain confidential”. The substantive decision, whether to accept the arbitrator's ruling striking the random drug and alcohol testing policy and ordering the reinstatement of eight grievors, was deliberated and decided behind closed doors. The public record shows only a procedural vote to adopt that closed-door action and keep the reasoning confidential.

amendedToronto Transit Commission Board · Wed, Aug 5Court rulingClosed doors

Also in this item

• Arbitrator Trachuk's decision struck the TTC's random drug and alcohol testing policy, finding it was not implemented in compliance with the collective agreement. The TTC must now negotiate a lawful testing regime with ATU Local 113.

• Eight TTC employees were ordered reinstated by the arbitrator, likely with compensation, as a remedy for the unlawful terminations or discipline under the struck policy.

The journey

Wed, Aug 5 · Toronto Transit Commission Board · amended

Decision

The board adopted the action taken behind closed doors and authorized that confidential appendices remain confidential. The substantive decision—accepting Arbitrator Trachuk's ruling that struck the random drug and alcohol testing policy and ordering reinstatement of eight grievors—was made behind closed doors and is not disclosed in the public record.

The vote

Amend Item · Carried, 5-3

For (4)Alejandra Bravo, Ausma Malik, Dianne Saxe, Jamaal Myers

Absent (2)Josh Matlow, Paul Ainslie

The whole record, all 6 members

Every name opens that member’s record.

On video

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Why is this story here?

StructuralAn arbitrator has removed a safety management tool the TTC relied on, ordered the reinstatement of eight workers, and imposed a binding constraint on how the agency can implement fitness-for-duty testing going forward. This is irreversible without a successful grievance counter-appeal (extremely unlikely) and structurally changes what the TTC is permitted to do in managing employee safety and fitness.Touches a narrow groupThe decision affects TTC employees directly, but does not change service, fares, routes, or safety outcomes for riders in an observable way this week. The reinstatement of eight workers and the policy revision are real but touch a narrow group (union members) and operate one remove from a typical rider's daily experience.

Stories are ordered by how much weight a decision carries and how directly it reaches daily life. They rise as a decision date approaches and fall as they age.

Open This Story

1 routine item logged — show them anyway

transit

TTC Board approves CEO performance review after in-camera discussion

The TTC Board adopted the People, Culture and Governance Committee's annual CEO performance review and objectives. The substance was discussed in closed session before the public vote.

adoptedToronto Transit Commission Board · Wed, Aug 5Closed doors

The journey

Wed, Aug 5 · Toronto Transit Commission Board · adopted

Decision

The Board adopted the Committee's recommendation on the CEO performance objectives and annual performance evaluation.

On video

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Why is this story here?

RoutineThis is the Board's routine annual performance review process, required by contract and governance protocol. It is substantive internally but creates no change to the institution, policy, or what future councils can do. The actual evaluation content was addressed in closed session.Invisible to residentsA CEO performance review is internal administration. No resident experiences this directly. The Board's feedback to management does not land on a rider's week, a commuter's route, or a tenant's bill.

Stories are ordered by how much weight a decision carries and how directly it reaches daily life. They rise as a decision date approaches and fall as they age.

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The full agenda, as filed

All 2 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.

TTC17.1amended
Fitness For Duty Grievance Update
The TTC Board: 1. Adopted the action taken in camera; and 2. Authorized that the information provided in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 is to remain confidential in its entirety as it contains advice which is subject to client-solicitor privilege.
Staff recommendation as filed
It is recommended that the TTC Board: 1. Approve the Confidential Recommendation as set out in the Confidential Attachment 1; and 2. Authorize that the information provided in Confidential Attachment 1 is to remain confidential in its entirety as it contains advice which is subject to client-solicitor privilege.
TTC17.2adopted
Annual Chief Executive Officer Performance Review
The TTC Board: 1. Adopted the recommendations in Confidential Attachment 1 and authorized that the information remain confidential in its entirety as it relates to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including a municipal or local board employee.
Staff recommendation as filed
It is recommended that the TTC Board: 1. Adopt the recommendation in Confidential Attachment 1 and authorize that the information remain confidential in its entirety as it relates to personal matters about an identifiable individual, including a municipal or local board employee.