City of Toronto workers closer to strike or lockout after ‘no board’ reports

Deputy mayor said Thursday he hopes imminent threat of a work stoppage focuses both sides on getting a settlement.

Thestar.com
Feb. 4, 2016
By David Rider

More than 28,000 unionized City of Toronto, including many trash collectors, could be off the job in just over two weeks if union and city negotiators can’t agree on new contracts.

The provincial labour ministry issued “no board” reports Thursday confirming talks are at an impasse.

That reports put CUPE Local 416 “outside” workers in a legal strike position - and the city in a legal lockout position - at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 19. If no contract is reached, the inside workers in Local 79 could join them one day later.

There is no hard deadline, however. The two sides could continue negotiating indefinitely after those dates.

The 5,400 outside workers include garbage collectors east of Yonge St.; homes west of Yonge are serviced by contracted workers not affected by the talks. Others in Local 416 include staff in water and parks departments.

The 23,100 inside workers include nurses, planners, social service employees and ambulance dispatchers.

As well as a negotiated settlement or work disruption, there’s another possibility - the city could impose new work terms or conditions, which would likely trigger a lockout.

Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong said he hopes the dates help get both sides back to the table.

“The clock is now ticking and hopefully this will focus all parties to reach a negotiated settlement before the deadline,” he said in an interview. “Nobody wants a labour disruption and it's in the best interest of all the residents of the city of Toronto not to have a strike.”

CUPE spokesperson Katrina Miller said the no-board reports were expected, calling the approvals “an administrative step.”

“Often bargaining continues into the open period,” after there could be a work stoppage, she said.

“It’s too early to start laying out what may happen later this month.”