January 29, 2016 

 

The City of Toronto today requested a No Board report from the Ontario Minister of Labour with regard to collective agreement bargaining with the Toronto Civic Employees Union (CUPE) Local 416. Local 416 represents the City of Toronto's outside workers. Collective bargaining with Local 79 continues.

 

In December, the City asked the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator to assist in its negotiations. Despite the conciliator's assistance, the conciliation process has not been effective to date and there has been little progress between the parties.  As a result, the City has taken the next legal step available in its ongoing efforts to negotiate an agreement.

 

When the City and Local 416 are notified of a No Board report, the union will be in a legal strike position and the City in a legal lockout position in approximately 17 days from the date of issuance. While the parties may continue to bargain past that date and may agree not to take any immediate action regarding a strike or lockout at that time, the notification will provide a specific date from which any action may be taken.

 

"The City of Toronto is committed to achieving a negotiated settlement, which is why we have taken this step," said Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Chair of the City's Employee and Labour Relations Committee. "We are hopeful that if meaningful negotiations can get underway without further delay, a resolution can be achieved during this 17-day period."

 

The City is committed to reaching a negotiated settlement that is fair to employees and residents and will support new ways to conduct City business better, smarter and more efficiently. 

 

In the event of a labour disruption, the City has a contingency plan in place that addresses the operation of key City services in the event of a labour disruption. Plans will be communicated at the appropriate time. 

 

Further information about the bargaining process, may be found at http://cityoftorontobargaining.ca/.

  

More information about the City's workforce data is available at http://ow.ly/XEEbd.

 

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/XGR5T 

 

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

 

- 30 -

 

Media contact: Wynna Brown, Strategic Communications, 416-919-6503, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.