CUPE Local 79, which represents 30,000 inside workers for the City of Toronto, have extended their strike deadline to Monday at 12:01 a.m. — meaning if no deal is reached over the weekend, they’ll walk out at the start of March Break.
“We are making one final effort to get a deal,” union president Nas Yadollahi told a press conference Wednesday morning.
“If there is no agreement by 12:01 a.m. on Monday morning, we are on strike,. We don’t want to strike — we never have.”
Yadollahi said the union on Tuesday afternoon received from the city what it is calling its final offer.
“We have diligently reviewed this offer, which still falls short of many of the needs our members have identified,” she said.
“We will be countering the city’s proposal with our own later (Wednesday). We’re willing to do everything to reach a fair deal. That is why we are extending our strike deadline and will negotiate throughout the weekend.
“But make no mistake, if there is no deal by just past midnight on Monday morning, we will walk off the job.”
Such a strike could affect city-run camps and activities at the start of March Break and close dozens of city-run early learning child-care centres.
If that does happen, the city has previously said refunds will be issued for any paid programs and clients won’t be charged for each day city-run child-care centres remain closed.
Yadollahi also accused city manager Paul Johnson of addressing media with updates on the talks but not sitting opposite the union at the table where it counts.
“This is a toxic way to negotiate,” she said. “An approach that reflects management at the city that has allowed skilled workers to leave elsewhere where the pay is higher, the workload is lower and the cost of living is more manageable. It’s mismanagement that’s led vacancies to pile up.
“Over 1,200 vacancies in Toronto Public Health, more than 400 unfilled positions in long-term care homes, over 2,000 recreation jobs sitting vacant, meaning fewer programs for kids and families. A 30% vacancy rate in some shelter and housing programs leaving vulnerable residents without the support they need.”
Johnson was expected to speak to the media about the city’s response at a press conference later Wednesday.
Yadollahi says while the top five management pay scale salaries went up 10%, front-line city workers saw their wages increase by just 1.75% in 2024 from the year prior.
“While they get raises the rest of us — childcare workers, shelter staff, public health nurses, recreation workers, personal support workers, case workers, and so many more — are struggling to make ends meet in the city that we serve,” she said.
The city’s bargaining team has been at the table since December and has previously said it remains committed to negotiating a new deal with an offer of a nearly 15% general wage increase over the next four years.