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Shortly after a 12:01 a.m. strike and lockout deadline passed on Saturday, the City of Toronto and CUPE Local 79 announced a tentative agreement was reached.

In a statement released by the City on Saturday, staff called the proposed five-year contract “fair to Toronto residents and Local 79 workers.”

The union, which represents approximately 24,000 workers, said the agreement was reached shortly before 12:01 a.m. and came after “round-the-clock” bargaining.

READ MORE: City of Toronto unveils plans for potential labour disruption with inside workers

Details of the deal weren’t released pending votes by Toronto city council and members of CUPE Local 79.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the union said ratification will take place in about three weeks.

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Among those who could have been on the picket lines would have been a large number of Toronto Public Health staff not working on the City’s COVID-19 response.

CUPE Local 79 represents workers in several City departments such as planning, recreation, child care, bylaw and licensing. Workers have been without a contract since the end of December.

Major bargaining issues involved job security, wages, benefits, and parental leave.

— With files from Matthew Bingley

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The @CityOfToronto has a tentative agreement with @CUPELocal79. I'm pleased we reached a negotiated tentative agreement with Local 79, in particular given the important role that our employees play as the City works through the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/eGB5kZxVP7 — John Tory (@JohnTory) March 14, 2020