Yesterday Toronto's Canadian Union of Public Employees Locals 416 and 79 (which includes garbage collectors) held a press conference to announce that they would be walking off the job after failed negotiations with the city:
CUPE claims Toronto negotiators are asking for too many concessions, most especially the removal of the banking of 18 sick days, which they claim is a hard fought for right they shouldn't have to give back.
But the City Auditor claims the move is costing millions of dollars taxpayers can no longer afford in lean times and something has to give.
Just after midnight on Monday, June 22, something did, as both the outside workers (Local 416) and the inside workers (Local 79) walked off the job in what could be a long, bitter strike that - without garbage pick-up - really stinks.
The last one spanned 16 days, and was only resolved when the workers were legislated back by Queen's Park. But many believe that only happened because Pope John Paul II was scheduled here for World Youth Day and Toronto and the province didn't want the eyes of the planet to see the city as a giant trash heap.
This time there's no such event or special guest. So how long it will last is open to question. (CityNews)
I can just imagine Toronto streets after 16 days of no garbage pickup as I've noted on some of my visits that some residents just pile it up in their front yards where it gets picked at by the rats and raccoons. There may be no special guests on route but I'm guessing a back to work legislation is already in the works. Toronto, I actually feel for ya.
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