'Impasse' is the word being used by one of the CUPE union locals involved in the17 day-old strike by city workers.
Toronto's employee and labour relations committee is meeting on Wednesday afternoon to update councillors on the strike and the state of negotiations.
But CUPE Local 79 President Ann Dembinski says the bargaining is not going well and that talks are at an impasse.
"It's unfortunate that residents continue to be deprived of important services. We remain available to bargain, but we can't negotiate with ourselves," she told CP24.
"The City has not backed away from concession demands. Until the Mayor and City Council change their position and move towards a settlement position, the strike will continue."
The meeting is a private event with the committee at City Hall.
The strike by 27,000 civic workers has affected garbage pickup, summer camp, daycare, licensing and a host of other municipal services.
Meanwhile, the stench of trash is noticeable in many parts of the city as garbage piles up at temporary sites and even along some streets.
If the strike drags on, there are new plans in the works to handle Toronto's rotting garbage.
The Ministry of the Environment has approved roughly 200 potential dumps in parks, parking lots and public spaces around the city. Right now, the 19 sites currently operating are about half-full.
For now, the city is not saying where new sites would be opened. Officials say they're hoping a settlement is reached before the sites are needed.
The one service not affected by the strike is parking enforcement. Cars parked illegally are being ticketed.
However, motorists have had a hard time paying for or fighting parking tickets, because places like Metro Hall are being targeted by pickets.
In the hopes of easing long lines at locations like 1500 Markham Road, a new location will be open at the York Civic Centre on 2700 Eglinton Avenue West, near Keele Street.
For more information, visit the City of Toronto website.
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