Toronto is facing potential upheaval as nearly 30,000 city workers, represented by CUPE Local 79, might go on strike as early as March 8, 2025. City Manager Paul Johnson has cautioned families about significant service disruptions during the pivotal March break, particularly impacting many key city services.
Johnson stated at a recent news conference, "I think families need to know well in advance." He continued to hope for negotiations to avoid strike action, emphasizing, "We continue to be at the table." Yet, as the deadline looms, the ramifications of such action could be dire for many families relying on city services.
Should strike action occur, Johnson underscored the closure of all 39 city-run child-care centres and most recreation centres. This would directly affect various scheduled activities, including March breaks camps planned at these venues. He said, "If there is a labour disruption, nearly all of the city’s recreation centres will be closed and recreation programming cancelled." This poses significant challenges for working parents who rely on these services during the spring break.
CUPE Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi expressed the union's desire to avoid such disruption, stating, "We don’t want to strike. We want to continue to do the work we love and care for the people of Toronto.” Yadollahi urges parents affected by the potential closures to advocate for their workers, emphasizing, "If we are unable to do [work], it is because the city has chosen [that path]." She encourages parents to contact their city councillors to demand fair contracting terms for the workers who serve them.
City officials have guaranteed partial continuity of services, including emergency services, long-term care facilities, and snow clearing operations. Johnson noted, "We have contingency plans for all of this,” ensuring urgent services would not be compromised. Further, he reassured parents, stating they would not incur charges for daycare spots during closures and would receive refunds for recreational programming.
The union's strength stems from overwhelming support from its members, with over 90 percent approving the strike mandate last month. These actions follow the issuance of a no-board report by Ontario's Ministry of Labour, indicating current negotiations between the city and CUPE Local 79 have stalled. The no-board report placed both sides on the brink of legal strike action.
At the heart of the negotiations are concerns over fair wages. Yadollahi remarked, "We want fair wage increases...wages...reflect what other municipal workers have received." The city's last offer included nearly a 15 percent increase over four years, which some union members see as inadequate, especially considering the rising cost of living and inflation.
Adding to the urgency of the situation, Florence Mwangi, a personal support worker within the city’s senior services, highlighted the staffing crisis affecting their sector. She revealed, "The number of vacancies...has grown by 687 percent with nearly 500 unfilled positions.” This grim statistic points to the exhausting working conditions remaining staff face, increasing pressure on those who still serve the community.
"The fact is, they're just not paying workers enough to recruit and retain them," Yadollahi reiterated, voicing dissatisfaction with the city’s pay practices. This sentiment was echoed by other union supporters, who conducted "information pickets" across the city to draw attention to the difficulties workers face and the need for increased investment to reverse the decline of public services.
Critics from the union argue the city's narrative downplays the potential impact of significant worker shortages. Yadollahi asserted, "I think the city is trying to minimize the impact this is going to have so they’re not getting heat from the residents of Toronto, but the impact is going to be massive." She believes the potential strike's ramifications could affect more than just recreation and child-care services but could extend to many employees and services residents rely on daily.
Adding to the fallout of the strike-related uncertainty, the organizers of the city's 191st Anniversary Celebration have postponed the event to April 5. CEO Micayla Doria stated, "Celebrate Toronto relies on city staff for logistical support to operate safely and efficiently.” The decision to postpone the event reflects the ripple effect of the impending strike on community events and local festivities.
While the city works to negotiate terms, the cultural and operational impacts of this impending strike loom large over Toronto. With the March 8 deadline fast approaching, many families will be left uncertain about their plans for March break, and the city faces pressure to resolve the situation amicably to prevent throwing its residents and city operations off balance.