Mayor John Tory warns of ‘real chance’ of strike or lockout

Contract talks between the city and unions are at an impasse.

Thestar.com
Feb. 11, 2016
By David Rider

Mayor John Tory is warning council colleagues of “a real chance we will have a labour disruption,” because contract talks between the city and unions representing 28,000 workers are at an impasse.

In an email to councillors and their staff Thursday afternoon, Tory notes that CUPE Local 416 members will be in a strike or lockout position at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 19, and Local 79 members one day later.

“Unfortunately, the current climate at the negotiations table and the union’s declaration that they will accept ‘No Concessions’ indicate that there is a real chance we will have a labour disruption,” Tory wrote.

“With this in mind, later today city operations staff will be issuing letters to stakeholders, suppliers and others who will be affected by any labour disruption, should one take place.

“This will include the parents who use the city’s child care centres. Later this week I expect there will be a news conference to provide Torontonians with the details on contingency planning.”

The workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31.

Local 79 members including child care and shelter staff, nurses, cleaners and planners. Local 416, represents garbage collectors and staff in departments including water and parks. A work stoppage would halt trash pickup in homes east of Yonge St., but not west of Yonge where collection is contracted out.

Local 79 president Tim Maguire told reporters Thursday the two locals offered the city a joint proposal the previous day to help reduce benefits costs - a key sticking point in the talks.

“There’s been some movement on some issues, but on the big issues there’s not been much movement and we’re hoping this proposal is a way to move forward,” Maguire said.

“We are not looking to negotiate concessions but we are willing to work collaboratively with the city to find savings and efficiencies on the issue of benefits.”

The suggestions include reducing administration costs by pooling the various benefits plans of CUPE members, and possibly other city workers, and using “preferred providers” to buy pharmaceuticals in bulk at a reduced price.

But the city quickly rejected the proposals, saying they “include both significant enhancements in benefits and more restrictive wording. We have a lot of work to get to a deal and the clock is ticking.”

Last week the unions rejected a city offer, saying its cuts to benefits are “the worst we’ve ever seen.”

When the workers are in a legal strike or lockout position, there is also a possibility the city will arbitrarily impose new terms and conditions on CUPE members.

“It is a concern, absolutely,” said Matt Alloway, a spokesman for Local 416 which last year was temporarily taken over by CUPE’s national office.

Asked if that could trigger a strike by his members, he said: “Would you want a group of workers working under terms and conditions they did not agree to?”

The unions are also seeking measures to give part-time workers more schedule predictability and to give more temporary part-time and full-time workers a shot at permanent full-time status.