When Toronto Mayor John Tory announced that he strongly supported a re-examination of contracting out residential solid waste collection east of Yonge Street, the members of CUPE 416 knew they were in for a fight. Today, CUPE National President Mark Hancock and CUPE 416 Executive Vice-President Matt Figliano held a news conference at Toronto City Hall to announce their campaign to fight the contracting out of Toronto’s residential solid waste collection east of Yonge Street.

Contracting out solid waste collection east of Yonge Street will effectively fire 500 hard working men and women from CUPE 416 through privatization. “Mayor Tory has continually disrespected the hard-working employees of the city, and he will continue to do so if we don’t stand up for them and inform the public of the facts,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock.

Matt Figliano introduced the “Kicked to the Curb” campaign that will “promote the facts about solid waste collection in Toronto.” A peer reviewed report by Ernst & Young recommended against contracting out solid waste collection east of Yonge Street after it found no evidence that there would be any cost savings to the City of Toronto. This report was shelved by the Mayor who has commissioned a new report on solid waste collection for January that is expected to recommend contracting out.