TORONTO – The Ministry of Labour has set a strike or lockout deadline of 12:01 a.m., June 29, for 15,000 “inside” city workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79.
Members of CUPE Local 79 voted to give their bargaining committee a strong mandate to call a strike if necessary. Members of Local 79’s “sister” local, CUPE Local 416, are now at the polls voting on whether or not to give their bargaining committee a similar mandate.
Both union locals now have strike or lockout deadlines for the same week.
Local 416 has a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., June 24.
CUPE Local 79 represents 17,000 workers, 15,000 of whom could be on strike by the end of the month. The workers include public health nurses, city planners, child care workers, parks and recreation workers, building inspectors, social service workers, homes for the aged employees, and clerical staff.
CUPE Local 79 and the City of Toronto are continuing to negotiate.
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Contact:
Shannon McManus, CUPE Communications:
416-292-3999