Rumoured Toronto mayoral candidate Doug Ford does not have the endorsement of CUPE Local 416, the union said Tuesday after photos of him at a Labour Day parade infuriated some organized labour supporters.

Photos on social media show Ford wearing a black Local 416 T-shirt with members of the union, which represents more than 5,000 City of Toronto outside workers, at the annual celebration of union rights in downtown Toronto on Monday.

Ford was a city councillor during the 2010-2014 mayoral term of his late brother, Rob Ford. While professing support for union members and disdain for their leadership, the brothers celebrated a contract that exacted concessions from Local 416 members. They also convinced council to privatize collection of trash from 165,000 west-end homes previously serviced by the city workers.

Doug Ford, who lost to John Tory in the 2014 mayoral election and is expected Friday to announce a rematch in 2018, famously said the duo were intent on “outsourcing everything that’s not nailed down.”

Tory had vowed to expand private garbage collection east of Yonge St. but, facing a possible loss at city council, retreated last January and said more study of the issue was required.

Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, minced no words on his Facebook page Monday that linked to photos of Ford at the parade in a post by website rankandfile.ca.

“This vile anti-union Fu$%er thinks he can ‘trump’ the Toronto (municipal) election and get working class folks to vote for him – and he is DREAMING – We will NOT let that happen,” Hahn wrote. “CUPE 416 recently saved 500 + jobs from contracting out and this guy – he’s all about killing good jobs.....So hear me now – let’s make it clear – we will work our butts off to make SURE union folks do nothing to support this....this....candidate.”

Comments from others echoed his anger, questioned who gave Ford the T-shirt and asked what kind of reception Local 416 members gave him.

Eddie Mariconda, Local 416 president, declined a Star request for an interview Tuesday but released a statement saying politicians want union members’ votes so it’s no surprise they turned up at the “inclusive” event.

“Anyone can show up at a parade and show support to working people,” he wrote.

“I want to state as clearly as possible, that Local 416 has not endorsed any candidate at this time. We look forward to next year’s municipal elections, where our members will be working hard to elect candidates who support public services and working people in every ward across the City of Toronto. We are confident that when people cast their votes for Mayor, they will vote for a candidate worthy of working people’s support.”

Doug Ford did not respond to the Star’s inquiries Tuesday.

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