Civic worker strike could lead to cancellation of March break recreation programs

Thestar.com
Feb. 21, 2020
David Rider

Toronto parents already scrambling for child care on school strike days could face a major March break headache if more than 5,000 city workers are off the job in a labour dispute.

A work stoppage by staff in CUPE Local 416, which could start as soon as next week, would close all city community and recreational centres, pools, arenas and rinks. If it continued into March break, special programming, including weeklong camps, on city property would be cancelled.

Some library branches would also close. Recreation programming normally held at off-site locations, such as schools, would continue, city officials said at a briefing on contingency plans held Thursday at city hall. March break runs from March 16 to 20 for the Toronto public and Catholic schools boards.

Parents currently have 3,174 children registered in March break camps in city facilities. Another 964 city camps in schools would not be cancelled.

Parents currently have 3,174 children registered in March break camps in city facilities. Another 964 city camps in schools would not be cancelled.

City and Local 416 representatives have, in contract bargaining since September, agreed on about 50 issues. But they have been unable so far to agree on four main points -- job security, parental leave, benefits and wages. Workers could strike, or be locked out, as of next Thursday.

City manager Chris Murray told reporters his team is doing everything possible to reach a deal and will work around the clock if necessary to avoid a work stoppage.

Other potentially affected services include:

Garbage, recycling and organics collection for about 200,000 homes east of Yonge Street would stop. Homeowners would be asked to store materials for the first week. The city would, however, accept combined garbage and organics in securely tied double plastic bags, and blue bin material in clear plastic bags at two round-the-clock depots: 188 Bermondsey Rd. and 50 Ingram Dr.; and at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. depots: 400 Commissioners St., 120 Disco Rd., 35 Vanley Cres., 1 Transfer Place in Scarborough and 3350 Victoria Park Ave.

Residents would likely face picket lines slowing down drop-offs. In a prolonged work stoppage, 11 temporary drop-off sites would be established.

Curbside collection west of Yonge Street, which was previously contracted out, would not be affected by any CUPE work stoppage. Collection from city bins in parks and public squares across Toronto would be suspended.

Highrise and commercial customers should check the city’s website for information.

Most libraries would remain open. Branches that would close are: Flemingdon Park, with the Leading to Reading program transferred to Don Mills; Todmorden Room; St. James Town, with Leading to Reading at Parliament; and Port Union.
All city council and committee meetings would stop, along with some city board and corporation meetings. Schedules are updated daily at toronto.ca/council. Events and meetings at city hall, and the Scarborough and North York civic centres, would be held but only between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All events in Nathan Phillips Square, David Pecaut Square, Albert Campbell Square, Mel Lastman Square and East York Civic Centre would be cancelled.

Weddings in city facilities for which permits are issued would continue, although participants may have to cross picket lines. The city has suspended issuance of new permits pending resolution of the labour dispute. All event permits, including wedding ceremonies and photography, for city parks would be cancelled.
Two animal services shelter locations would remain open between noon and 4 p.m. seven days a week: 146 The East Mall and 821 Progress Ave. Services would continue for calls regarding sick or injured animals, stray dogs, dog-bite investigations, and dead animal pickup.
Some winter road staff would be off work. Contract and management staff would clear critical road, sidewalk and bike routes. Emergency pothole and sidewalk maintenance would continue. Routine operations including street cleaning and non-urgent repairs would halt.

The four-year contract for outside workers expired Dec. 31, as did contracts for inside workers in CUPE Local 79 and Toronto Public Library staff in CUPE Local 4948. Representatives for outside and library workers are in their own bargaining, with inside workers one step behind outside workers in terms of moving toward a possible work stoppage.

Eddie Mariconda, Local 416 president, issued a statement Thursday saying the city should focus on negotiating a fair deal with outside workers instead of publicizing plans for a work stoppage.

“What is not affordable is the labour disruption that the city is instigating,” he wrote.

“Based on what I saw from the city today, it’s not clear to me they are equally committed to doing the work it will take to find solutions,” Mariconda wrote. “I want to assure the residents of Toronto that if there is a stoppage it will be because of the city, not the union.”

Correction -- Feb. 20, 2020: This article was updated from a previous version that said a strike would impact waste collection for about 50,000 homes east of Yonge Street. In fact, collection would stop for 200,000 homes: 50,000 per day in a four-day collection week.