Toronto has contingency plan for labour disruption: city manager

The city has announced a work stoppage contingency plan if a deal with the union representing 23,000 inside workers can’t be struck before the 12:01 a.m. Saturday deadline.

“Most city services will continue under the city plan,” city manager Joe Pennachetti said Thursday.  “We need to get ready, but we would like to settle through bargaining.”

Members of CUPE Local 79 will be in a legal strike position, and the city in a legal lockout position once the deadline passes.

Toronto police, fire, EMS, and TTC would continue to function as usual in the event of a disruption, Pennachetti said.

“The City’s water supply and sewage treatment systems will also continue to function within established safety and quality standards,” Pennachetti added.

Residential and commercial garbage, recycling, green bin, yard waste, electronics, and curbside collection or large items will also continue in all areas of the city.

Among key areas that would be affected by a stoppage:

• All 52 municipal child care centres directly operated by children’s services will be closed.
• Pools, curling clubs, community centres, arenas, and fitness centres will be closed to the public.
• Most permits at city operated community centres, indoor arenas, outdoor sports fields, parks and picnic grounds will be cancelled.
• Wedding ceremonies will not continue at North York, Scarborough, York or East York civic centres.
• Several family health services will also be halted (See full list of affected services here)

“The City will implement this plan if required. We are still committed to reaching a negotiated settlement with Local 79 and we are working around the clock to reach an agreement that is reasonable and fair to employees, the City, and residents,” said Pennachetti.

The union told CityNews it has no plans to walk off the job as long as negotiations continue.

“We are not going to walk off the job if there is no deal  come Saturday,” Local 79 president Tim Maguire said.

But deputy mayor Doug Holyday says talks have stalled and accused the union of failing to negotiate.

“For the most part they are not available,” Holyday said Thursday. “There still is time to get a settlement but it can only happen at the table. They should get to the table and let’s get an agreement.”

The union was quick to counter.

“It’s not a matter of being available,” shot back CUPE’s Cim Nunn.  “We did a comprehensive set of proposals on all four collective agreements earlier this week, passed it to the employer, and they gave it a thoughtful 20 minutes before pitching it back and saying ‘No, it’s not what we want.’ That’s not bargaining.”

The union says it is currently working on a counter-proposal.

The main sticking points in negotiations are rights of part-time workers and the so-called “jobs for life” clause in the contract. The contract expired on Dec. 31, 2011 and contract negotiations began five months ago.

The “jobs for life” issue was also a main sticking point in negotiations with Local 416, which represents the city’s outside workers. The union compromised and the current contract provides job security from contracting out to employees with 15 years of service or more. Council approved that four-year deal last month.