CUPE Local 79 and mayor say they are willing to restart bargaining
Neither side Monday expressed willingness to break a deadlock that threatens to trigger a strike or lockout involving CUPE Local 79 inside workers.
Thestar.com
Feb. 29, 2016
By David Rider
Mayor John Tory and the union representing more than 20,000 city workers both say they are willing to restart contract bargaining talks that broke down on the weekend.
But neither side expressed willingness on Monday to give ground and break a deadlock that threatens to trigger a strike or lockout involving CUPE Local 79 inside workers that would shut city-run daycares and close many city offices.
“The city will return to the table if and when we have a clear signal that it would be a productive use of our time to do so,” Tory told reporters shortly after city council unanimously approved a new four-year contract for outside workers in Local 416.
The city needs a “willing partner” at the bargaining table to get a collective agreement, the mayor said, adding the city would welcome a call from the provincially appointed mediator suggesting the union is willing to move on key issues.
Local 79 president Tim Maguire said Monday night the union is “hopeful” the mayor’s comments mean talks can continue towards a settlement. He said it would be sending a formal response to the city’s “last offer” Monday night.
“We have re-engaged with the mediator,” Maguire told a news conference. “We’re providing responses in some of our differences that remain with that final offer, and hopefully that moves the city to respond in kind.”
It will then be up to the city to continue negotiating with the union, force the union to take their final offer to their members for a vote, or force a lockout of workers.
In the meantime, a work-to-rule campaign that limits workers to performing only their contracted duties will continue Tuesday.
On Saturday night the city presented Local 79 that last offer - the same deal approved by outside workers, who include garbage collectors, animal control officers and transportation staff, plus some enhancements.
The Local 416 contract approved by council Monday includes: wage hikes of 1.25 per cent for each of the four years, plus a .25 per cent lump sum payment in the final year; concessions on benefits such as restricting prescriptions to generic drugs and reducing long-term disability benefits; and the phasing out of a job-security provision that says veteran staff whose positions are contracted out must be given another equivalent city job.
Local 79 president Tim Maguire rejected that offer, highlights of which the city then posted online in a bid to ratchet up worker and public pressure for a settlement.
On Monday night, the union posted a document of “corrections” on that offer which highlights major sticking points on wage increases, shift scheduling and contracting-out jobs that remain at issue.
