CUPE 79: Inside workers split on city's offer, recreation centres could close

I worked the overnight shift when the CUPE 79 vote result broke. Here's the story I filed shortly after the announcement that a web editor quickly threw on the website from home. It was beefed up the next day for a print version with more details and quotes.

Tim Maguire speaks to media outside of the Sheraton hotel.
Toronto Star photo

Two of the four bargaining units representing City of Toronto inside workers voted Wednesday to accept the city’s final offer, which could prompt a lockout or strike involving part-time recreation workers.

While a full-time and part-time unit accepted the deal, both part-time recreation workers and long-term care workers voted against the deal, which union leadership had decided not to endorse.

Because long-term care workers are considered an essential service, both sides are to enter arbitration. But for part-time recreation workers, the future remains unclear.

“This is an administration that’s out to cut services and contract out services,” CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire told reporters as results were announced Thursday shortly before 2:30 a.m. The union represents 23,000 inside workers.

Both sides are in a legal strike-lockout position, and the union is calling the city back to the bargaining table.


Earlier this week, the city’s executive director of human resources said that if Local 79 members rejected the offer, the city “could lock them out, or we ... could impose these (offered) terms and conditions; we could implement other terms and conditions.”

Maguire repeated Wednesday that, should the city move to impose employment terms and conditions on his members, he will have little choice but to use the strike mandate that 85 per cent of his members gave him in a vote.

He also stated that only units in dispute would go on strike, not all CUPE 79 workers.

In the event of a strike, all city-run programs would be cancelled at community centres, indoor swimming pools, arenas, curling clubs and fitness centres. This includes programs offered at satellite locations and public, separate and community schools such as camps, classes and drop-in clubs.

With files from Star staff