Today, the City of Toronto announced some service impacts affecting families in Toronto in the event of a labour disruption involving members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union representing the City’s 27,000 inside workers. The union will be in a legal strike position and the City in a legal lockout position at 12:01 a.m., or one minute past midnight, on Saturday, March 8.
A labour disruption would result in the closure of all 39 City-operated early learning and child care centres, as well as the closure and cancellation of programming at all City recreation centres including March Break camps. Refunds will be issued for any paid recreation programs that are affected and clients will not be charged for days that City-operated child care centres are closed.
The City will remain prepared to respond to emergencies if a labour disruption occurs. Emergency response by the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services will not be impacted. The Toronto Community Crisis Service will operate normally. Winter maintenance operations for roads and sidewalks will continue.
Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, TTC, Toronto Community Housing and Toronto Water operations will continue during a labour disruption. All City-operated and funded shelters, 24-hour respite and drop-in programs will remain open. The City will continue to activate additional services during colder temperatures, including Warming Centres.
Court proceedings will continue and individuals with trial dates are required to attend court.
Bargaining update
The City’s bargaining team has been at the table with Local 79 since December 2024 and remains committed to negotiating a new collective agreement that reflects the important work of City employees while also providing value for money for Toronto residents and businesses.
The City has offered all members of Local 79 the same general wage increases that were successfully negotiated with Toronto Civic Employees Union (TCEU) Local 416 (outside workers) in December 2024, providing an increase of close to 15 per cent over the next four years.
The City has also tabled targeted salary improvements in addition to these increases in order to address jobs where the City is not paying at market levels.
These proposals include a significant investment in recreation staff that will ensure 92 per cent of all part-time recreation hours are paid above minimum wage. In comparison, last year, 57 per cent of all recreation hours worked were paid above minimum wage. The City’s offer would invest $2.7 million in recreation worker compensation.
For part-time staff working in long-term care homes, in addition to the above wage increases, the City has offered to increase guarantees of daily hours and increase the number of guaranteed shifts for employees per pay period. These moves will help staff have more stability and predictability in their assignments.
Yesterday, the City tabled special wage adjustments for certain occupations, including nurses, call takers, dispatchers and their training officers, law clerks, prosecutors and municipal standards officers, to bring these jobs up to market levels.
Information on City services and bargaining updates can be found on the City’s Bargaining Update webpage.
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