Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

TORONTO, June 24 - The union representing 6, 800 “outside” workers in the City of Toronto has extended tonight’s strike deadline until Monday morning in an attempt to avert a work stoppage. The union was in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 24th.

Brian Cochrane, President of the Toronto Civic Employees’ Union, Local 416 (CUPE), told a news conference tonight that the union received an offer from the employer late on Sunday night that moves the negotiations no closer to agreement.

“We have said all along that we will do whatever possible to avert a strike,” said Cochrane, “but they’re not giving us much to work with. It is our view that someone has to be responsible here and take control of these negotiations. To that end we’re going to assume that role. We’re going to take a few hours, put together another comprehensive proposal, and give the city a last chance to come to their senses. Our commitment to our members and to the public is to try everything possible to avoid a work stoppage, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

“We continue to urge the City’s principals to come to the table and talk to us - we have little faith in those negotiating on their behalf. We have been asking the principals for months to get here and hear us out on the key issues. If the City walks away at this point and there is a work stoppage, it is entirely on their shoulders.”

Local 416 represents 6, 800 water and waste-water workers, sanitation workers, paramedics (EMS), parks and recreation, roads and transportation workers. Local 416 also represents an additional 2, 300 library workers who

are in a legal strike position on July 4th.

CUPE represents half a million working women and men in Canada, many of

whom work in the municipal, health care, and university sectors.

-30-

For further information: Andrea Addario, CUPE Communications, (416) 738-4329