Potential job action involving TTC electrical and signal workers looms weeks before FIFA World Cup

Subway cars are pictured at a TTC rail yard.

The TTC’s 700 electrical and signal workers could be locked out or walk off the job weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup.

On Friday, the TTC asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour for a “no-board” report. Once issued, it would begin a 17-day countdown on a possible job action.

The request came after CUPE Local 2, which represents the TTC’s communications, electrical and signal workers, said members voted in favour of strike action.

According to a union news release earlier this month, the key issues on the bargaining table are wages and employer concession demands.

TTC CEO Mandeep Lali said making the request “was the best way to encourage meaningful, good-faith negotiations.” Usually, unions ask for a no-board report during bargaining.

“Requesting a no-board report creates the structural foundation to reach an agreement before the event kicks off in Toronto on June 12,” Lali said in a statement.

He noted that the TTC remains committed to providing uninterrupted transit service during the World Cup, but the agency has “robust contingency plans” in place if there is a labour disruption.

“We remain fully committed to reaching a new collective agreement as we have been since January 2026, and we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to negotiate with CUPE, working to ensure we do not have a labour disruption,” Lali said.

The TTC workers’ contract expired on March 31.

The union questioned the TTC’s latest move.

“What we’ve seen from the TTC so far is escalation, including moving to conciliation before meaningful negotiations even began and requesting a no-board report today, triggering a countdown toward a strike or lockout,” a CUPE spokesperson said in a statement.

“That raises serious questions about whether the focus is on bargaining or applying pressure to reach a deal ahead of the World Cup, at a time when our members are facing a cost-of-living crisis.”