Toronto Mayor David Miller says the city has received a "serious" counter-offer from the unions representing about 24,000 striking civic workers. But there's still more negotiating to be done before the 22-day-old strike comes to an end, he adds.
Speaking on CP24 Breakfast on Monday morning, the mayor expressed optimism with the latest developments to end the strike.
"For the first time, from my perspective, they've made a counter-offer that was serious," Miller says.
But CUPE's latest proposal still isn't in the city's range, Miller says.
"I think that's a little possibility of a hint of good news. I wouldn't go past that."
The mayor also says he doesn't think the city has seen a "proper response" on either wages, monetary issues or the sick bank since they've started negotiating in January until they presented a counter-offer.
"But now we're at least talking," he says.
The city presented its latest offer to the union late last week, prior to the unions' counter-offer. No details of the union offer have been released.
Meanwhile, the absence of city services means garbage, recycling and compost pickup remains cancelled. City residents are allowed to take their trash to one of five transfer stations or 19 temporary drop-off sites.
Pickets at some locations are making residents wait for a time before dumping, while others are letting people come and go without incident.
Leave us your comment here.
