TTC fires worker after subway doors stuck open on moving train, union says

The Toronto Transit Commissionfired an employeeafter doors on a subway trainstayed open as itcrossed the Bloor Street Viaduct on Friday,the union that represents TTC workers says.

PassengerKamalJaved, who filmed the open doors from inside the moving train, hassaid aTTC employee checkedthe doors, then walked away,andthe train left the station without the doors being fixed.

Union head BobKinnearsaid that employee was fired onMonday, and it's not clear when or if he will be allowed to come back to work.

• Video shows subway doors stuck open on moving train
• TTC worker allegedly left commuters on train with open doors

"We don't know when he's going to be reinstated, if he's going to be reinstated, what the position of the TTC is withregard to the length of penaltyhe might face," Kinnear said.

The TTC would not confirm the employee was let go, saying only that disciplinary action has been taken.

TTC Spokesman Brad Ross said the doors were left open asa result ofhuman error. Protocols were not followed when the doors becamejammed after the eastbound subway train left Castle Frank Station.

'Normal wear and tear'

Ross said worn treads caused the doors to jam.

"It's a normal wear and tear type of issue on the door tread," he said. "But when that happens, there are mechanisms and protocols that we must follow to deal with those doors. Close, lock, isolate them and then barricade them. Those things did not happen."

Early Tuesday afternoon, TTC CEO Andy Byfordsaid that the train involved in the incident was checked and nothing mechanically wrong was found. The entire fleet of trains was also checked and was deemed safe, he said.

"There are procedures to be followed if an operator orguard encounters door problems," Byford told reporters. "Those procedures were not followed."

1.8 million passengers daily

TTC brass don't feel that the operator was at fault, according to Byford. Rather, it was the guard on the train who did not follow the proper procedures.

"We carry 1.8 millionpeople a day on the system. It's a very safe system," he said. "On this occasion someone didn't do the job they're supposed to do."

Toronto Mayor John Tory praised the TTC for its quick action.

"I'm told by the TTC they're addressing the particular instance. ...I think that's all they can be expected to do. I'm encouraged to hear that they've identified the reason and they're hard at work trying to make sure the training is better so it doesn't happen again."

'Fire first and ask questions later'

But Kinnearsaid questions remain unanswered.

"In order for us to make an educated decision on what actually occurred, we need all of the relevant information, and that would include the communications between transit control and the crew. To this point we have not received that information," he said.

"I also don't know the history of this car and these specific doors, whether or not they've had mechanical problems over the last couple of weeksor the last couple of months."

Hewouldn't say whether the union will appeal theTTC'sdecision.

Asked if the TTC was too hasty in metingout disciplinary action, Kinnear said: "They always jump the gun. This is a tradition at the TTC. Fire first and ask questions later."