The City of Toronto is asking a provincial mediator to declare a deadlock in its contract talks with unionized staff — a step closer to a winter lockout or strike.
Councillor Doug Holyday confirmed the move in an interview Thursday.
“I guess we weren’t getting any co-operation” in ongoing talks, Holyday said shortly before Mayor Rob Ford held a news conference to discuss the move in his City Hall office.
“I guess it’s just another step in the process. Hopefully it will get the two sides together.”
Contracts for about 32,000 City of Toronto workers in four unions expired New Year’s Day.
A city-requested provincial mediator started meeting with negotiators for the city and CUPE Local 416, representing 6,000 outside workers, on Monday. Earlier talks had broken down in mid-December.
The two sides met again this week and discussed bargaining dates, but the city now says no progress is being made.
If mediator Denise Small agrees and Ontario Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey issues what is called a “no board” report, 17 days after the day on that report the city can legally lock out the workers and the workers can legally strike.
The Ford administration is adamant the union give up safeguards ensuring any permanent employee made redundant by contracting out, or technological innovation, be found another job in the civil service.
CUPE 416 president Mark Ferguson is equally adamant workers won’t give up the hard-won job protection or other concessions being sought by the city, fuelling fears of a winter lockout or strike.
Earlier this month, Holyday told the Star the Ford administration believes that, if a work disruption is inevitable, it should happen soon, in the winter, rather than the summer when rotting garbage will stink up the tourist season.
Talks are ongoing between the city and CUPE Local 79, representing 23,000 inside workers, and are expected to start soon with the 2,300-member Toronto Public Library Workers Union.
Original Article
Source: Star
Councillor Doug Holyday confirmed the move in an interview Thursday.
“I guess we weren’t getting any co-operation” in ongoing talks, Holyday said shortly before Mayor Rob Ford held a news conference to discuss the move in his City Hall office.
“I guess it’s just another step in the process. Hopefully it will get the two sides together.”
Contracts for about 32,000 City of Toronto workers in four unions expired New Year’s Day.
A city-requested provincial mediator started meeting with negotiators for the city and CUPE Local 416, representing 6,000 outside workers, on Monday. Earlier talks had broken down in mid-December.
The two sides met again this week and discussed bargaining dates, but the city now says no progress is being made.
If mediator Denise Small agrees and Ontario Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey issues what is called a “no board” report, 17 days after the day on that report the city can legally lock out the workers and the workers can legally strike.
The Ford administration is adamant the union give up safeguards ensuring any permanent employee made redundant by contracting out, or technological innovation, be found another job in the civil service.
CUPE 416 president Mark Ferguson is equally adamant workers won’t give up the hard-won job protection or other concessions being sought by the city, fuelling fears of a winter lockout or strike.
Earlier this month, Holyday told the Star the Ford administration believes that, if a work disruption is inevitable, it should happen soon, in the winter, rather than the summer when rotting garbage will stink up the tourist season.
Talks are ongoing between the city and CUPE Local 79, representing 23,000 inside workers, and are expected to start soon with the 2,300-member Toronto Public Library Workers Union.
Original Article
Source: Star
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