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Mr. Ferguson calculated the savings from the wage freeze based on a 2%-a-year-salary increase, and said the money could go to protecting some of the city services that are on the chopping block in this year’s budget.

He said city negotiators refused to meet with the union on the weekend, so “we thought there was no other way to get our message out there other than appealing to Torontonians directly.”

The tactic clearly frustrated Deputy Mayor Holyday, who urged the union to bring its proposals to the bargaining table, not a press conference. He said negotiators wouldn’t meet with Local 416 on Saturday because they had said they had nothing new to say.

While the wage freeze is a “good start,” it’s not enough, said Mr. Holyday.

“There are several clauses in the contract … that cost the taxpayer millions of dollars and produce absolutely nothing. And they’re inefficient and they don’t give us the flexibility to provide the best service we can provide. We want to change that,” said Mr. Holyday. For example, contentious job security provisions guarantee a permanent employee another position if their job is contracted out.

Meanwhile, the city is quietly making contingency plans in the event of a work stoppage, but officials will not discuss the details. City Hall is on edge.

“The people of Toronto do not want another labour disruption, whether it’s in the winter or in the summer,” said Councillor Janet Davis, a member of the opposition. “And if there is a reasonable, fair offer on the table from the union and a willingness to forgo a wage increase, not have a strike, and free up money for more services for the budget items we’re trying to solve yet, then I have to scratch my head saying why aren’t we there talking to them.”

National Post

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