About 25,000 municipal workers could be locked out in a matter of weeks after the Ontario Ministry of Labour approved the city's request for a ‘no board' report in their negotiations with CUPE Local 79.
The report, which was issued Wednesday, will put the city in a legal lockout position and CUPE Local 79 in a legal strike position on March 24.
CUPE Local 79 has been without a contract since midnight on December 31.
Some of the main sticking points preventing a deal getting done have revolved around scheduling, pay and part-time worker rights, Maguire said.
"We will be meeting with the city again today and we are hoping they come to the table willing to have meaningful discussions," he told CP24. "We have to have a collective agreement that represents everybody's interest."
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.
In an interview with CP24 Thursday afternoon Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said he hopes a similar situation plays out this time around.
"The reason we have asked for the no board is because it focuses the discussion and that is what is needed to get a settlement," he said. "With a ‘no board' in place discussions will be more intense and we are more likely to get an agreement."
CUPE Local 79 represents "inside workers" including nurses, janitors, ambulance dispatchers, recreation workers, child care workers and urban planners.
A "no board" report has already been issued in the city's negotiations with CUPE 4948, which represents public library workers, and either side will be able to take labour action March 18.
Holyday told CP24 that contingency plans are already in place should either union walk off the job or be locked out by the city.
"We always have contingency plans when negotiations are underway," he said.
