The head of the TTC union warns city hall had better not try to “bully” transit workers in contract talks now that the Legislature has passed a law banning them from striking.

“If they think that they’re going to push us into a corner, I assure you we will come out swinging in defence of our members, and just as importantly, in defence of public transit,” said Bob Kinnear, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.

His comments came minutes after the Legislature passed the essential services bill Wednesday by a vote of 68-9, just in time for the expiry of the ATU’s contract with the TTC at midnight Thursday.

“We said we would act quickly and we have,” Labour Minister Charles Sousa said of the legislation, which was requested by Mayor Rob Ford’s administration and opposed by New Democrat MPPs.

Although contract talks have not progressed to the point where a strike is imminent, city officials were eager to avoid any disruptions that would leave 1.5 million TTC riders without subways, streetcars and buses.

Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government — whose Liberals hold 19 of 23 Toronto seats in the Legislature heading into the Oct. 6 election — were eager to oblige.

Talks with the union are continuing daily, with both sides yet to put their offers on the table, said TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

“There’s no threat of a labour disruption. We’ll just continue to negotiate,” he said. “The objective always is to reach a negotiated settlement, whether there’s an essential services legislation or not.”

Kinnear said the threat of legislation has made for “stagnant” talks but would not detail what actions the 10,000 unionized TTC workers would take if they feel under threat.

“We are not looking for conflict,” he said shortly before storming away from reporters’ questions at Queen’s Park. “We want to alleviate any perception by this administration in the City of Toronto that they can bully us around because of this legislation.”

If the TTC and union cannot reach a settlement, issues in dispute will be sent to arbitration. That could cost more in terms of fares or lost services, because arbitrated settlements can be more expensive, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath warned.

“The costs are going to go up with those arbitrated decisions, and I think that’s going to have an impact.”

TTC strikes or lockouts cost the city’s economy $50 million a day, studies show.