Toronto strike averted: City Council and TCEU Local 416 – CUPE outside workers reach agreement
The City has been in negotiations with TCEU Local 416 – CUPE, the union representing our 5,000 outside workers since September 2019. These negotiations included three days with the assistance of mediator William Kaplan.
Earlier today, City Council voted unanimously to ratify the five-year agreement. This follows the ratification by TCEU Local 416 – CUPE members yesterday. The memorandum of settlement is available online here: toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-146711.pdf.
“This five-year agreement is timely, affordable, and responsible,” said Mayor John Tory in a press statement. “The deal approved by City Council today is fair to Toronto taxpayers and fair to our valued workers. Most importantly, we were able to work with our bargaining agent partners and conclude a timely agreement without a labour disruption. I firmly believe this is a good outcome for everyone.”
The details of the five-year agreement include:
• Wage increases
o 1% per year for the first three years
o 1.75% per year for the last two years
• Cap on erectile dysfunction drugs
• Limitation of orthotic and orthopedic devices for dependents 18 years of age and under
• Establishment of the Joint Benefits Committee to continue to work on the affordability and sustainability of the City’s benefit program
• Changes to parental leave that fairly address recent changes to the Federal EI program, while increasing the top-up percentage so employees can receive the increased top-up payments for up to 12 months or elect to spread the same dollar value of the top-up payments over a period of up to 18 months
• Continue to limit job security to employees who have reached 15 years seniority with the cut-off date extended to as of December 31, 2024.
In addition, the amount allotted for psychological services, eye exams and PSA testing/ovarian screening has been increased.
Information about the financial impact of this settlement cannot be released until the City has concluded a settlement with CUPE Local 79 and the settlement has been ratified by both the union and City Council.
