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Toronto :Mayor John Tory says the city will not return to the bargaining table with the union representing inside workers unless there is a reasonable expectation of progress.
“We need to have that assurance – that there’s going to be some productivity to these discussions,” Tory said.
Nearly 20,000 inside workers represented by CUPE Local 79 have been taking job action for a week now, refraining from duties beyond what is laid out in their job descriptions and taking all scheduled breaks.
Both sides have continued to negotiate since the work-to-rule-campaign started, but negotiations broke down over the weekend after the city offered what was described as a final offer and the union disapproved.
The city posted details of the offer online. It includes a five per cent pay raise over four years and an effort to provide more stable scheduling.
The union called the public disclosure of the offer ‘disrespectful’ and has blamed the city for the breakdown in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Tory said citizens have made it clear to him that they don’t want to see the cost of running the city continue to grow.
“I remain absolutely consistent in stating that any deal we reach – and I can believe one still can be reached – must be balanced and realistic in the context of where our city government finds itself financially and where tax-paying citizens find themselves financially,” Tory said.
City council is meeting today to vote on a deal ratified last week by the city’s outside workers, represented by CUPE 416. That deal includes a pay increase similar to that offered to inside workers, as well as a provision that would only guarantee job security to workers with 15 years seniority or more in the event of privatization.
Tory has said that any deal reached with inside workers will need to be similar to the deal with outside workers. However CUPE 79 President Tim Maguire has said members in his union have their own particular set of needs and concerns that would have to be addressed in any deal. They include gender pay equity and greater security for part-time workers.
