Earlier today the City received the No Board Report from the Ministry of Labour for three of the four Local 79 collective agreements (Full-time, Unit B – Part-time, Recreation Workers’ Part-time), which sets the legal strike/lockout deadline for CUPE Local 79, the union representing City inside workers, at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

The bargaining committees for the City and union had met for almost three months when on Thursday, February 6, 2020 the bargaining committee for CUPE Local 79 requested the appointment of a Ministry of Labour conciliator. After the first meeting with the conciliator the union’s bargaining committee requested a No Board Report.

The City will continue to meet with the union to try and achieve negotiated collective agreements. Over the course of the coming weeks we will endeavor to keep you apprised on the status of bargaining.

The City is also preparing contingency plans in the event of a Local 79 work stoppage as we did with TCEU Local 416 – CUPE. Those plans will be shared in advance of the deadline.

With regards to negotiations with Local 416 – CUPE, representing our outside workers, the strike deadline is Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. We are continuing to meet with the union to achieve a negotiated collective agreement.