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TORONTO, ON – The City of Toronto’s hasty decision to declare an impasse in bargaining is the ‘latest step in the Ford administration’s campaign against public services,’ the President of the Toronto Civic Employees Union, Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 416) said today.
“We feel that this is a hasty decision. It leaves us asking why the City is in such a rush to declare negotiations at an impasse,” Mark Ferguson said in response to the City’s decision today to declare negotiations at an impasse and request a ‘no-board’ report from the Ministry of Labour.
By seeking the ‘no-board’ report, the City has now set the clock ticking towards a possible labour disruption in less than three weeks.
“Our members do not want a labour disruption, and we have offered to work with the City to identify savings that do not harm the vital services Torontonians depend on,” said Ferguson.
The City’s move is just the latest step in the Ford administration’s campaign against public services. On December 14, the City walked away from the bargaining table and filed for conciliation, effectively derailing negotiations for nearly a month.
Ferguson urged the City to return to the bargaining table—but to do so with “a genuine willingness to negotiate fairly with Local 416.”
Local 416 has offered the City 30 bargaining dates to ensure the public services residents depend on are not jeopardized.
“We want to find a solution that maintains the important public services people depend on. We recognize we are in uncertain economic times, which is why we are not seeking any major improvements for our members during this round of bargaining,” he added.
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For more information, please contact:
Kevin Wilson CUPE Communications 416-821-6641
