ChildStrike

With negotiations ongoing with the City of Toronto and its inside/outside workers – we have what you need to know in the event of a possible strike or work stoppage.

With a potential strike or lockout by City of Toronto workers on the horizon, several city services including garbage pickup and child care will be affected if a deal isn’t reached.

The city’s 4,200 outside workers, which include garbage collectors, water and parks staff, will be in a legal strike or lockout position as of 12:01 a.m. on Friday. And the following day, more than 23,000 inside workers could hit the picket lines.

On Wednesday afternoon, both unions said they’ve proposed new frameworks for settlement, hoping to avoid labour disruptions.

“We have eliminated proposals which, through of importance to our membership, would distract the two sides from focusing on using this time productively to reach an agreement,” said Tim Maguire, President of Local 79. “Now we need the city to withdraw its demands for cuts and get down to business.”

The city hasn’t responded yet.

In the event of a strike or lockout, the city says a contingency plan will be “implemented immediately and will remain in place for the duration of the disruption or until further notice.”

Below is a rundown of which services are affected and which ones are staying put. Click here for a full list.

Services affected

  • Garbage pickup east of Yonge Street will be suspended. Residents would have to store their garbage and organics for a week until temporary drop-off sites are set up within the week, should the strike continue.
  • All child care centres operated by the city will be closed.
  • First aid, CPR and defibrillator courses scheduled at city facilities will be cancelled.
  • Community and fitness centres, ski hills, arenas, curling rinks and ice rinks, and indoor pools will be closed. Several arenas and community centres operated and staffed by boards of management will not be affected.
  • Recreation programs will be cancelled for city and community-operated programs at all community centres, arenas, swimming pools, fitness centres and schools, including camps, classes and drop-in clubs.
  • Routine repairs or maintenance to expressways, roads, sidewalks and bridges will not be done.
  • Events at Nathan Phillips Square, David Pecaut Square and civic centres will be cancelled. City-run museums, art galleries and cultural facilities will be closed.

Services that are not affected

  • Collection of garbage, recyclables and organics, will continue west of Yonge Street, where garbage collection is contracted out, but there could be delays in pickup if waste transfer stations are picketed.
  • Toronto Police, Toronto Fire Services, and Toronto Paramedic Services and the TTC will operate as usual.
  • Water supply and sewage treatment systems will continue to run.
  • Roads, sidewalks and bike lanes will be salted and plowed after a snow storm. The city will also conduct emergency road, sidewalk and sign repairs.
  • Long-Term Care Homes and Services, as well as cold weather services and the city’s 10 emergency shelters will not be affected. However, there could be reduced service levels and hours of operation at shelters.
  • Most Toronto Public Library branches will be open, except for Flemingdon Park, St. James Town, Port Union and Todmorden Room.
  • The Toronto newcomer office for Syrian refugees will remain open.

 

Story courtesy of 680News.com Staff

Photo courtesy of 680News.com