Garbage Strike Looms As City Readies Its Contingency Plan
Posted June 16, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto is less than a week away from a possible garbage strike and talks are continuing under a media blackout.
Neither side is speaking with reporters as the Monday deadline approaches. That’s when members of CUPE Local 416 can legally hit the pavement, leaving litter to fester in bags and bins.
“I think there’s a strong possibility of a strike,” admits city councillor Karen Stintz.
The union, representing 6,200 outside workers, claims the city is asking for too many concessions.
It’s not just garbage collectors that could be affected – Parks and Recreation employees could also strike, as well as some daycare employees and water maintenance staff. CUPE Local 416 also represents paramedics, although because they’re deemed an essential service they’ll be on the job at a reduced capacity of 75 percent.
The last garbage strike happened in 2002 and lasted 16 days. Garbage piled up on streets and sidewalks across the city, and the smell was evident around many a corner.
“I do (remember the last garbage strike),” one GTA resident noted. “I’m looking for a very short strike.”
There’s a new issue this time around — the green bins full of organic waste that the City now collects. Those didn’t exist back in 2002.
“That will be the real test of patience of the people in Toronto,” Stintz remarked. “I would certainly encourage people to start organic composting in the back.”
The city is slated to release its contingency plan on Wednesday.
Currently, the main stumbling block is the accumulation of sick days that have to be paid out to workers when they retire.
Employees can ‘bank’ the days they don’t book off – up to 18 shifts a year – and collect the money when they retire. The measure cost the cash-strapped city about $250 million this year alone and they want to put an end to it.
“In the real world people don’t get that. So, why should they?,” city councillor Rob Ford mused. “Especially in the middle of a recession.”
Officials are offering a short-term disability plan for employees too sick to come to work
That’s not the only issue: job security and seniority are also on the table.
A strike could begin June 22.
