Toronto city labour pains: A timeline
Posted February 3, 2012 6:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City workers could be off the job on Sunday morning as an increasingly tense labour dispute comes to a head.
The pending work stoppage is the culmination of months, if not years, of increasing tensions between public unions and the City of Toronto.
At issue is the “jobs for life” clause, as well as cuts to benefits and changes to seniority in the collective agreement for CUPE Local 416 members.
Here’s a timelime looking at the recent labour dispute:
June 2009: A summer-long garbage strike sees tons of trash bags piled high in city arenas. The standoff between then Mayor David Miller and the unions would have huge political repercussions: Miller decides not run for re-election.
Oct. 25. 2010: Rob Ford is elected as mayor on a pledge to “end the gravy train” and “cut the waste at city hall.” He specifically pledges to get tough with unions representing city workers.
Oct. 19, 2011: The union and the city exchange bargaining positions. Talks begin.
Nov. 8, 2011: CUPE Local 416 president Mark Ferguson warns of a possible lockout as negotiations continue. The city and the unions met at least four times in November.
Nov. 10, 2011: City manager Joe Pennachetti says layoffs are “likely” as Toronto looks to trim its 2012 budget deficit.
Dec. 31, 2011: The contracts between the city and Local 416, Local 79 and Local 2998 expire.
Jan. 13: Ferguson says the union has offered the city a three-year wage freeze. The following week the city rejects union’s offer, and counters with a four-year proposal that includes taking the so-called “jobs for life” provision out of the contract for workers with less than 25 years of seniority.
Jan. 16: Local 416 rejects the city’s offer.
Jan. 19: The Ministry of Labour approves a “No Board” report request made by the city, which acknowledges that talks have come to an impasse and allow either side to strike or have a lockout if no offer is struck at the end of a 17-day deadline.
Jan. 22: Talks resume between the city and Local 416.
Jan. 27: Ferguson and Local 4948 president Maureen O’Reilly publicly accuse the city of bargaining “in bad faith.”
Jan. 31: Deputy mayor Doug Holyday says there will not be a lockout when the bargaining deadline of Feb. 5 is reached.
Feb. 2: Local 416 offers a three-year wage freeze as well as five-year restriction on employment security. Local 79 continues its bargaining with the city. (The city and Local 2998 haven’t begun talks.)
Feb. 3: The city counters with a “take it or leave it” offer to Local 416, a proposal Ferguson calls “provocative” and “threatening.” The agreement includes eliminating the jobs-for-life clause and cuts to benefits. Ferguson said the city is more interested in being a “bully than a problem-solver.” “We will not be provoked,” he added.
Feb. 5: The city and Local 416 agree to the mediator’s request to extend the 12:01 a.m. deadline to 2 a.m. Talks continue past the new deadline.
Around 8:30 a.m., the city and Local 416 reach a tentative deal. Union members must still vote to ratify the contract.
