City On Strike Watch, As Labour Disruption Could Begin Monday
Posted June 18, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Come Monday, everything from garbage pick-up, to daycare, to parks and recreation services could be affected by a city workers’ strike.
The City has laid out its contingency plans in case of a walkout, warning Torontonians to be prepared to make alternate arrangements. Aidee Pena-Alvarado found out Wednesday that her day care is among the 57 facilities that would close in the event of a strike.
“It’s going to be very hard for us,” Pena-Alvarado admitted. “I’m upset because how are we going to go out to make some money?”
A labour disruption could also affect one of the city’s biggest annual events: Pride Week, which begins on June 19 and culminates in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 27. It brings a million people into the downtown core each year. Normally the clean-up is handled by City workers but that may not be the case this year.
Not to worry, organizers say. They have a back-up plan.
“We’re going to hire private individuals, we’re going to make use of volunteers and if necessary we’ll bring in our own vehicles and we have some volunteers who are in fact experienced in waste management who will be helping us out on the weekend,” explains Tracey Sandilan, the executive director of Pride Toronto. “We have no intention of leaving the streets full of garbage.”
