Union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers votes for strike mandate

CUPE Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi says 90 per cent of members who voted opted to give the union a strike mandate.

A union representing some 30,000 inside workers at the City of Toronto says its members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike mandate if bargaining fails to yield a deal.

The union represents city workers in public health, planning, city hall operations, employment & social services, cleaning, court services, ambulance dispatch, child care, 311, recreation programming, shelters, water & food inspection, and long-term care.

CUPE Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi told reporters Tuesday that over 90 per cent of workers who took part in the vote over the weekend opted to give the union a strike mandate.

“The major issue for our workers is wages, which hasn’t been keeping up with anything frankly,” Yadollahi said. “So wages is going to be our biggest point.”

She added that “we’re very far apart.”

She noted that 43 per cent of part-time recreation workers are being paid minimum wage, while 94 per cent of them are being paid less than $26 per hour. She said they also have no time off, no sick days and limited benefits

“This is the reality of many of the workers employed by the City of Toronto.”

No strike deadline date has yet been set. The union last sat down with the city 10 days ago and bargaining is set to resume on Thursday.

In a statement, the city said it “continues to bargain in good faith with CUPE Local 79 to reach a fair and reasonable collective agreement that reflects the important work of city employees while also providing value for money for Toronto residents and businesses.”

The city said its bargaining team continues to be available “seven days a week” to try reach a deal.

“We have encouraged them to return to the table sooner and make more dates available for constructive bargaining. The City is eager to build on the recent success of its negotiated and ratified agreement with TCEU Local 416 – CUPE,” the statement said.

Yadollahi wouldn’t give a specific number for member turnout at the vote, however she said it was significant.

“I can tell you that I wouldn’t be standing here speaking to the people of Toronto if I wasn’t confident that that number is significant,” she said.

She said amid inflation and the high cost of living, a strike would put at risk affordable services that residents rely on.

In a news conference, Mayor Olivia Chow said she’s hopeful a deal can be reached through negotiations.

“We are bargaining. That’s how we can come to an agreement, by talking to each other,” Chow said. “I know our staff and their team, CUPE 79, are continuing their discussions.”

She added that “that’s the best way to reach an agreement.”

The strike vote comes as the city’s 2025 budget process is underway.

“We trust that the city understands the significance of this round of negotiations with Local 79 and what it would mean if 30,000 workers withdrew their laboury,” Yadollahi said when asked if the budget process complicates negotiations.

The union has previously called for “millions of dollars” more for workers in the latest city budget in order to “compensate for a decade of austerity.”

Yadollahi said that in particular, higher wages are needed to rectify a “crisis” in recruitment and retention.