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April 2: A message from City Manager Joseph Pennachetti - Collective Bargaining Update

I am very pleased to advise you that the collective bargaining agreements reached between the City and CUPE Local 79 Full Time and Part Time B units, representing close to 13,000 employees, were approved by City Council at a special meeting this morning. Union members voted to ratify the agreements on Wednesday, March 28.

I believe that this deal is, first and foremost, fair and reasonable for employees and the residents and businesses of Toronto.

Highlights of the agreements include:

• 4 year terms for the agreements (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015)
• Wage increases in the second, third and fourth year of the four-year agreements:
• January 2013 - 0.5 per cent base increase + 1.5 per cent lump sum payment
• January 2014 - 1.75 per cent base increase
• January 2015 – 2.25 per cent base increase
• Employment security protection provisions regarding contracting out now applies to permanent full-time employees with 15 years of seniority or more
• New streamlined redeployment processes which will reduce the time to place an employee in a new position by up to 50 per cent
• New or revised shift schedules can be changed to meet operational needs and to improve productivity and customer service
• Modest cost containment changes to the employee benefit plans
• Phased-in elimination of the redundant shift overlap for Long-Term Care Homes and Services affected full-time employees with a lump sum payment offset.

Details of the agreements are available at here.

Tomorrow the part-time Recreation Workers unit will vote on a tentative deal that was agreed to by the union on Friday, March 30. I am hopeful that the agreement will be ratified, particularly since the majority of CUPE Local 79 and Local 416 employees have already ratified very similar agreements and the union is recommending it. Outstanding issues with the part-time employees in the Long-Term Care Homes and Services unit will proceed to binding arbitration.

I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for your continuing hard work and service to the City. It has been a difficult few months for all of us, but through it all, it was evident that no one wanted a labour disruption and everyone wanted to keep providing excellent city services and programs to the public. I am pleased that we have a number of ratified collective agreements and we are close to achieving agreement on all of the collective agreements in order to provide labour stability for the next four years – a huge accomplishment.

We are now in a position to move forward on our shared goals of making the Toronto Public Service more efficient and effective and improving customer service. Thank you again.

Full details on the changed provisions in the new agreements for Local 79 Full-Time and Part-Time B units will be communicated at a later date.

Once again, I want to thank all of you for your continued commitment to providing the high quality City services that our residents rely on every day.

Sincerely,

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

March 29: A message from City Manager Joseph Pennachetti - Collective Bargaining Update

I am pleased to report that two of four CUPE Local 79 bargaining units (Full-time and Part-time B), representing close to 13,000 employees, have ratified the City's final offer to the union made during bargaining on the weekend. No one wanted a labour disruption that would affect our relationship with these employees or any others. I know that this has been a worrisome process for employees and appreciate the thoughtful consideration that they have shown in accepting the City's offer.

The other two bargaining units (part-time Recreation Workers and part-time Long-Term Care Homes and Services) represented by Local 79, have voted to reject the City's offer. The part-time employees in the Long-Term Care Homes and Services unit will proceed to binding arbitration and do not have the legal right to strike.

We believe one of the key issues for the part-time recreation workers is related to a binding arbitration award issued in December, which harmonized their part-time hourly rates. The parties had been working together for a number of years to find a solution prior to formally submitting the outstanding issues to arbitration. The award resulted in 73 per cent of the recreation workers receiving a pay increase and 22 per cent receiving a decrease. Both groups received a lump sum payment to offset either retroactivity or a decrease in salary. This decision is not the subject of current negotiations that have been underway to establish a new collective agreement for these employees.

It is unfortunate that the part-time Recreation Workers and part-time Long-Term Care Homes and Services units chose not to accept the City's offer. I strongly believe the City's offers, which are very similar to the agreement ratified by TCEU Local 416 last month and to offers accepted by the Full-time and Part-time B units of Local 79, are both fair and reasonable, especially given our economic and budgetary position.

City Council will convene a special session to consider the agreements that have been ratified. The date of the meeting will be announced as soon as possible. Details of the agreements will be posted on the City's website when they have been approved by Council.

I look forward to a speedy resolution to the remaining agreements.

Again, I thank you for your continued efforts to deliver cost-effective and quality services and programs to the residents and businesses of the City of Toronto.

Sincerely,

Joseph. P. Pennachetti
City Manager

March 27: Ratification Vote by CUPE Local 79

On Wednesday, March 28, CUPE Local 79 will hold ratification votes on the City's final offers.These votes will be held at three separate locations across Toronto. All three ratification vote locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Northwest
Montecassino Hotel and Event Venue
Salon C
3710 Chesswood Drive
(For those taking public transit, a shuttle bus will run all day from Downsview subway, or it is a 15-minute walk)

Downtown
Sheraton Hotel
Civic Ballroom, 2nd floor
123 Queen Street West

Northeast
Delta—Kennedy & 401
Heritage Room
2035 Kennedy Road
(For those taking public transit, a shuttle bus will run all day from the Scarborough Midland RT Station)

The following is clarification on questions that City officials have been asked about the voting process:

1. Do the majority of all of the employees in Local 79 have to accept the City's offers for them to be ratified?
   • There are four separate collective agreements, one for each bargaining unit: Full-time, Part-time B, Part-time Recreation Workers and Part-time Homes for the Aged.
   • That means there are four separate votes, one for each bargaining unit. An employee only votes once on the collective agreement that they work under.
   • The majority of the employees who vote, in each bargaining unit, have to accept the City's offer for it to be accepted by that bargaining unit.
   • For example, part-time employees do not vote on the full-time agreement and vice versa.
2. Will employees be given time off to vote?
   • If operational requirements permit, employees may request lieu time in order to vote.
   • Given that polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., we would encourage employees to vote either before or after work.
   • If the voting location is near your workplace, we would encourage you to vote at lunch.

March 26, 2012

I am very pleased to inform you that shortly after midnight the City reached an agreement with CUPE Local 79 that will see the City's final offer go to the union membership for a ratification vote on Wednesday, March 28. I am pleased that we were able to reach this agreement without a labour disruption.

The four agreements representing Full-time, Part-time B, Long-Term Care Homes and Services and part-time Recreation Workers units must be ratified by the Local 79 membership and subsequently approved by Toronto City Council.

I strongly believe that the City's offer is fair and reasonable for the City's employees, and will allow the Toronto Public Service to continue to deliver high quality services to the residents of Toronto. I am confident that it will be ratified by the union membership.

Highlights of the offer include a four-year term with job security, wages and benefits that are almost identical to the 416 agreement that was ratified unanimously by City Council in February. Information on the offer is available on the City's website. Full details will be released once they have been ratified by both parties.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Bruce Anderson, Executive Director, Human Resources and the City's chief negotiator, Bob Reynolds, Director of Employee and Labour Relations and their bargaining team members as well as the City's labour legal team led by Darragh Meagher, Director, Employment Law, for their efforts over the last three months, negotiating 24/7 as necessary, to secure these agreements.

Thank you for your continuing efforts and commitment to deliver cost-effective and quality services and programs to the residents and businesses of the City of Toronto.

Sincerely,
Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

March 9

Today, the City of Toronto received written notification from the Ontario Ministry of Labour of the signed "No Board" report regarding Local 79 bargaining. The issuance of a No Board report means that CUPE Local 79 is in a legal strike position and the City in a legal lockout position as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 24; that is, one minute past midnight on the Friday night.

I am hopeful that a resolution remains possible during this period. The City wants to reach agreement with Local 79 and that's why we took the step of requesting the No Board report on March 2. We remain hopeful that an agreement remains possible during this period. The City continues to be strongly committed to negotiating new collective agreements with Local 79.

If a labour disruption occurs, the City has contingency plans in place to continue delivering critical services to residents and businesses. Information about the City's contingency plans will be announced when appropriate. The TTC, Police and Fire Services, the City's Long-Term Care Homes and Services (Homes for the Aged) and Toronto Community Housing properties would not be affected.

I will provide you with updates as the negotiations continue.

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

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March 2

CUPE Local 79 bargaining update

As you may be aware, the City provided notice to commence bargaining with CUPE Local 79, representing the City's 23,000 "inside" workers, in October 2011. Since then, we have been meeting regularly with Local 79's bargaining team to try to negotiate four new collective agreements. The previous agreements (Full-time, Part-time, Long-term Care Homes and Recreation Workers) between the City and Local 79 expired on December 31, 2011.

We have been unable to reach a negotiated agreement and today, the City of Toronto requested a "No Board" report from the Ontario Ministry of Labour regarding Local 79. When the ministry issues the No Board report, CUPE Local 79 will be in a legal strike position and the City in a legal lockout position in approximately 17 days.

I am hopeful that a resolution remains possible during this period. The City continues to be strongly committed to negotiating new collective agreements with Local 79. We want to achieve fair, reasonable and affordable agreements that take into account the City of Toronto's business operations needs and the fiscal challenges it faces.

If a labour disruption occurs, the City has contingency plans in place to continue delivering critical services to residents and businesses. Information about the City's contingency plans will be announced when appropriate.

I will provide you with updates as the negotiations continue. The most up-to-date information will also be posted on the City's website.

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

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February 15

City Council approves Memorandum of Settlement with TCEU Local 416

I am very pleased to advise you that the collective bargaining agreement reached between the City and Toronto Civic Employees' Union Local 416 (CUPE), representing 6,000 outdoor workers and paramedics, has been ratified. Union members voted to ratify the agreement on Monday, February 13 and today, City Council approved the agreement at a special Council meeting.

I believe that this deal is, first and foremost, fair to employees.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• Wage increases in the second, third and fourth year of the four-year deal:
  • January 2013 - 0.5 per cent base increase + 1.5 per cent lump sum payment
  • January 2014 - 1.75 per cent base increase
  • January 2015 - 2.25 per cent base increase
• New or revised shift schedules that meet operational needs to improve productivity no longer require union approval
• Running lunch continues only where it is operationally efficient
• Employment security protection provisions regarding contracting out now applies to employees with 15 years of seniority or more
• New streamlined redeployment processes which will reduce the time to place an employee in a new position by 75 per cent
• Streamlined bumping process for layoff and recall
• Minor changes to the employee benefit plan
• Interest arbitration for paramedics starting with the next round of collective bargaining.

Details of the agreement are available at http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.CC18.1

This agreement modernizes the previous collective agreement and allows the City to deliver its services effectively and efficiently to the residents, taxpayers and businesses of Toronto.

Negotiations with CUPE Local 79 are ongoing and again, our goal is to reach a negotiated settlement that is fair to employees and affordable to Toronto residents and businesses.

Once again, I want to thank all of you for your continued commitment to providing the high quality City services that our residents rely on every day.

Sincerely,

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

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February 15

Mayor Rob Ford's remarks on the collective agreement with TCEU Local 416

February 5

Message from City Manager to all staff: tentative agreement reached with Local 416

I am very pleased to advise you that the City has reached a tentative agreement with the Toronto Civic Employees' Union Local 416 (CUPE), representing 6,000 outdoor workers and paramedics, as of 8 a.m. this morning.

The tentative agreement must be ratified by the Local 416 membership and subsequently approved by Toronto City Council. Details of the agreement will be released once it has been ratified and approved by both parties.

The tentative agreement is fair to our employees, reasonable and affordable for residents and businesses, and will allow the Toronto Public Service to continue to deliver high quality services.

I also want to extend my sincere thanks to Bruce Anderson, Executive Director, Human Resources and the City's chief negotiator, Robert Reynolds, Director of Employee and Labour Relations and their bargaining team members for their intense efforts over the last four months, negotiating 24/7 as necessary, to secure this agreement.

Negotiations with Local 79 are continuing and I will provide you with updates regularly.

Thank you for your continuing efforts and commitment to deliver cost-effective and quality services and programs to the residents and businesses of the City of Toronto.

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

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February 3

City Manager's message to all City of Toronto staff

I am writing to provide you with important news regarding ongoing negotiations with Local 416.

Last night, the City tabled a comprehensive proposal to Local 416 at the bargaining table that we believe is fair and reasonable for employees and the residents and businesses of Toronto.

The changes the City proposed last night include new or modified terms and conditions of employment and will also include wage improvements over the next four years and new or modified terms for the employees' benefit plan. Such wage adjustments will be:

• 1.25% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2012 (to be paid March 15, 2012)
• 1.50% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2013
• 1.75% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2014
• 1.75% Base Wage Increase effective January 1, 2015

The highlights of the City's proposals, which include workplace practices and terms, employment security and redeployment, benefits and other implementation issues, are posted on the City's website. I strongly believe that our proposed new or modified terms and conditions are fair and reasonable and that they will continue to provide our employees with leading wages, benefits and terms and conditions of employment comparable to any other leading large private or broader public sector employer.

It is important to note that the City of Toronto is not planning to lock out its employees represented by Local 416 on Sunday, February 5. However, if the parties fail to reach a negotiated settlement by 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, February 5, we will implement the changes we have proposed. These changes include new or modified terms and conditions of employment for employees represented by Local 416 beginning February 5, 2012.

While some of the rules around the way Local 416 members perform their duties may possibly change at some point in the future, today's announcement has no impact on their key duties. All employees are expected to report for work as usual and perform their duties. Any changes to the terms and conditions of employment for Local 416 members will be communicated to them directly.

In the event that a labour disruption seems imminent, for example, if the union holds a strike vote, the City will announce its contingency plans.

These changes do not apply to employees who work in the Long-Term Care Homes and Services Division and employees who are Paramedics who work in Toronto Emergency Medical Services. For those employees who are not represented by Local 416, the terms and conditions remain the same. Today's announcement has no impact on them.

Negotiations with CUPE Local 79 are not affected and are continuing.

The City remains ready to meet with Local 416 to finalize the terms of a new collective agreement based on our offer. TCEU Local 416's Executive has been provided these terms and conditions at the bargaining table and have been notified of our intention to implement them.

The changed terms and conditions will be phased in with different effective implementation dates depending on the specific term.

Thank you for your patience during these difficult times and for your ongoing hard work delivering City services.

Joseph P. Pennachetti
City Manager

February 3

Emergency Medical Services draft Memorandum of Agreement

The wage increases the City proposed to the union on February 2, 2012 will apply to all paramedics upon the completion of a collective bargaining agreement:

• 1.25% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2012 (to be paid once bargaining is concluded)
• 1.5% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2013
• 1.75% Lump Sum Payment - January 1, 2014; and
• 1.75% Base Wage Increase effective January 1, 2015

In addition, the City has offered the union interest arbitration for paramedics for future rounds of bargaining. This means that should their collective bargaining reach an impasse in future contract talks, the City would not be able to lock them out, nor would they be able to strike.

Due to the special nature of the legislation that applies to paramedics, the City will not be implementing the new or modified terms and conditions of employment that were announced on February 3.

For paramedics, any new or modified terms and conditions including wages, would be provided to paramedics ONCE bargaining has concluded and a new collective agreement has been ratified.

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