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‘Significant progress’ in city talks: CUPE
Three days before a lockout or strike becomes legal, the leader of the union representing Toronto’s outdoor municipal workers reported “significant progress toward successfully concluding an agreement.”
Mark Ferguson, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 416, made the upbeat assessment in a written statement Thursday afternoon. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said he was less optimistic.
“There would’ve been some progress, but not near as much as Mr. Ferguson would like to have us believe,” Holyday, chair of the city’s labour relations committee, told reporters.
However, Holyday also said, “Through hard work and negotiations — there’s 48 hours before any deadline is reached — we think we could come up with a contract by that time.”
Local 416 represents more than 6,000 workers, including garbage collectors, paramedics and parks maintenance staff.
A lockout or strike can legally occur as soon as Sunday morning. City officials and Mayor Rob Ford’s administration have refused to reveal how the city plans to deal with household garbage in the event of a stoppage.
“If such a thing would happen, our people will be notifying the media, and through the media to the public, what steps would be taken and how we would handle the matter,” Holyday said
Mark Ferguson, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 416, made the upbeat assessment in a written statement Thursday afternoon. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said he was less optimistic.
“There would’ve been some progress, but not near as much as Mr. Ferguson would like to have us believe,” Holyday, chair of the city’s labour relations committee, told reporters.
However, Holyday also said, “Through hard work and negotiations — there’s 48 hours before any deadline is reached — we think we could come up with a contract by that time.”
Local 416 represents more than 6,000 workers, including garbage collectors, paramedics and parks maintenance staff.
A lockout or strike can legally occur as soon as Sunday morning. City officials and Mayor Rob Ford’s administration have refused to reveal how the city plans to deal with household garbage in the event of a stoppage.
“If such a thing would happen, our people will be notifying the media, and through the media to the public, what steps would be taken and how we would handle the matter,” Holyday said
