Once again, the City of Toronto has found itself at an impasse with its employees. The city moved today to file a "no board" report in its negotiations with 23,000 inside workers.

If the Ontario Ministry of Labour approves the city's request and issues the report, it would put the city in a legal lockout position and CUPE Local 79 in a legal strike position after a 17 day negotiating window.

CUPE Local 79 represents nurses, janitors, ambulance dispatchers, child care workers and planners.

"The City of Toronto has taken this step because we want to negotiate new agreements with Local 79," Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said in a press release. "We are continuing to bargain with Local 79 and remain hopeful that a resolution is possible during this 17-day period."

The contract between CUPE Local 79 and the city expired at midnight on Dec. 31.

The city's press release suggests the two sides have been meeting regularly since then, but on Friday afternoon Local 79 President Tim Maguire told reporters that the city has not budged from their original position.

"We've waited 12 weeks for discussions and real proposals on issues affecting Local 79," he said in the union's own press release that was also released Friday afternoon. "Instead they've moved toward a countdown period."

The main points of contention are believed to revolve around job security and pay, with Maguire suggesting the city wants to impose a seven per cent wage cut on workers in long-term care facilities.

On Thursday the Ontario Ministry of Labour issued a "no board" report in the city's negotiations with a union representing its public library workers.

In January, a "no-board" report was also issued in the city's negotiations with its outside workers, but a settlement was reached before any labour action was taken.

To date Local 79 has presented the city with four different offers.

If the union is locked out or forced into taking labour action Maguire said the impact will be significant.

"Most of the citizens of Toronto if not at all would be affected," he said.

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