

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





The union representing more than 20,000 inside municipal workers said after "a very difficult round of negotiations," it has reached a tentative deal with the City of Toronto.

CUPE Local 79 President Tim Maguire said he believes the bargaining team achieved the "best possible" collective agreements they could get "under the circumstances."

"We moved forward on some issues and we were able to push back on deep concessions. We faced a reluctant employer, an employer reluctant to deal with many of the issues with respect to moving forward on good jobs," Maguire told reporters during a news conference Thursday morning.

Maguire said that the Local 79 bargaining committee will be recommending that its members, which includes child care, recreation and planning staff, accept the tentative agreement.

Contract talks broke down last weekend after there was some confusion about whether the city had sent the union its "final offer" and was no longer willing to negotiate.

“There was a setback on the weekend where there was a misunderstanding that led to a temporary impasse but we got right back at it and finished the deal."

When asked what led to the break through after weeks of slow and even stalled negotiations, Maguire refused to get in to specifics.

“I can’t get into the exact nature of the terms of the agreements. They will be put to our members soon in a ratification vote," Maguire said.

In a news release issued Thursday morning, the union added that part-time employees at long-term care facilities, who are unable to strike, will have their contract sent directly to interest arbitration due to outstanding issues.

The news of a deal comes one day after Mayor John Tory told reporters that he was "not hopeful" about the latest round of talks.

“I am in regular contact with our bargaining committee and with Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong and I can tell you that I am not hopeful,” Tory said Wednesday.

“To date I just haven’t seen anything that indicates that the union understands that the deal we arrive at has to be fundamentally consistent with the deal we arrived at through negotiation with Local 416.”

When discussing the news Thursday, Tory said collective bargaining can have its "ups and downs."

"Mr. Maguire has his members’ best interest at heart. In the end, I believe we reached an agreement which respects the hard work of city staff while also acknowledges the financial realities we have as a city," Tory said.

Pressed for details of the tentative agreement, Tory remained relatively quiet.

"Obviously it would be disrespectful to have me start to comment on terms before the members of the union and the members of city council have seen the agreement that was arrived at last night," he said.

"These were good jobs once we started these negotiations and they will be good jobs after the contract is ratified."

Tory said that the mediator was "instrumental" in helping the two sides come together and added that he is "confident" the tentative deal will be ratified.