The city's inside workers will proceed with a work-to-rule campaign Monday morning after negotiations between the union and the city failed to make significant progress.
CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire made the announcement Sunday evening.
“Local 79 is disappointed that there’s been a slowing of the pace in negotiations so as we announced today, we will begin a work-to-rule campaign in the morning,” Maguire said.
The move means workers will take all breaks and refrain from any extra duties beyond their job descriptions. However city services such as daycare centres and permit services will continue to run.
Earlier Sunday Maguire said the workers would proceed with the work-to-rule campaign unless there was “sufficient progress” in negotiations with the city.
“We’re concerned about the slow pace of these talks,” Maguire told reporters. “We’ve still not seen significant movement in key areas.”
He said the main sticking points in negotiations with the city are around scheduling, wage increases, and growing work pressure due to unfilled jobs.
Maguire said progress has been too slow and there will not be another extension in the mediation phase of negotiations.
The move comes after two previous deadline extensions.
Responding to the move in a statement, Mayor John Tory said he is “disappointed” in Maguire for putting job action on the table.
“Such an escalation will not assist the efforts being made by the city and the provincial conciliators to conclude a collective agreement,” Tory said in the statement.
While Tory would not comment on specifics of the negotiations, a CUPE 79 spokesperson told CP24 Sunday that the city and the union are still far apart on some key issues.
Tory said he is advocating for a deal that is fair to both workers and the taxpayers and added that the contract can’t be “too far off” from the tentative agreement that was reached with the city’s outside workers last week.
While workers will continue to provide service Monday, they will take all their full breaks and will not perform any duties beyond what is strictly required of them, except in situations where people may be at risk.
“The city achieves savings and efficiencies every day, as these dedicated workers arrive early, stay late, and work through their breaks and lunches,” Maguire said in a release. “This work to rule action will give the city a clear idea of just how much our members give to the city.”
While Local 79 is proceeding with job action, both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table Monday to try and hammer out a deal.
