Toronto – Members of CUPE 1600, workers at the Toronto Zoo, rejected a tentative settlement reached by the two parties on Tuesday.
“It’s clear the majority of our members feel we should continue to negotiate,” said Grant Ankeman, President of CUPE 1600. The union represents approximately 300 zoo employees who provide animal care, health and nutrition, horticulture, maintenance and custodial services, guest services, education, membership, and exhibit design among many other job classifications.
“We have met with the Toronto Zoo bargaining team and explained our members concerns. It is our goal to return to the bargaining table and iron out the issues our members have told us are a priority for them.”
“While we are in a legal strike position, we currently have no intentions of walking off the job, leaving Torontonians and tourists with no or limited access to one of the best zoos in North America.”
“Our immediate goal is to go back to the table and negotiate a new collective agreement”
For more information contact:
Russ Armstrong, CUPE National Representative
(416) 953-9527
Wendy Forbes, CUPE Communications
(416) 292-3999