700 TTC electrical employees could be locked out ahead of the World Cup

As negotiations with the union continue, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) says it is prepared to lock out about 700 electrical workers just months before the World Cup. 

In a statement published on Thursday, TTC CEO Mandeep Lali revealed the agency had been granted a no-board report by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Skills Development on Wednesday. This report allows the TTC to lock out CUPE Local 2 employees if an agreement is not reached by 12:01 a.m. on May 16. 

CUPE Local 2 is a union that represents about 700 TTC employees, responsible for installing and maintaining its electrical, communications, and signal systems. 

The two parties have been negotiating to reach a new collective agreement since mid-March, as their previous agreement expired on March 31. 

Last month, the union released a statement revealing that 99.5 per cent of its members had voted in favour of striking, saying issues involving wages and “employer concession demands” were still unresolved. 

In his newest statement, Lali also said the union’s current demands related to wages exceed other deals seen across the industry and inflation projections, which the TTC considers unfair. 

“Agreeing to the union’s current package of proposals would result in cost increases to the TTC of approximately $86,000 per employee for compensation (i.e., vacation, wages, etc.) over a three-year agreement. This is not in line with what the TTC perceives to be a fair and fiscally responsible agreement,” he said. 

According to Lali, the newest announcement won’t result in any immediate impacts on the TTC, and suggested the agency is looking to reach an agreement before the World Cup kicks off. 

“As Toronto prepares to host the world during the FIFA World Cup 2026, the TTC is resolute in its commitment to do everything possible to provide uninterrupted transit service for the millions of people in this city and region who rely on us every day, and for everyone visiting for this event,” he said. 

The World Cup is set to begin on June 12, as the city will host six matches at the BMO Field and other tournament-related activities through July 19. 

If the TTC in fact locks workers out on May 16, that would put them less than a month before the major event. 

In its latest statement published on April 24, CUPE Local 2 called out the TTC for rapidly escalating negotiations ahead of the World Cup. 

“That raises serious questions about whether the focus is on bargaining or applying pressure to reach a deal ahead of the World Cup, at a time when our members are facing a cost-of-living crisis,” the statement said. 

“Our members are proud to keep Toronto moving safely and are ready to play a key role in delivering a successful FIFA World Cup for Toronto. This contract timing doesn’t change that, but it does underscore the need for a fair, reasonable deal.”

TTC faces series of technical issues

The negotiations come as the TTC has seen repeated closures over the last few weeks related to mechanical and technical issues. 

Friday’s morning commute was a closure between Woodbine and Broadview stations, due to a mechanical problem along Line 2. Service resumed approximately 40 minutes after the initial announcement. 

A day prior, on Thursday, the entirety of Lines 2 and 4 were down for approximately 25 minutes as the agency faced a software issue. 

At the time, Lali spoke at CP24 Live, saying the issue affected the agency’s systems for signalling, scheduling, and train trips, which was caused by a “gremlin” coming from a software update earlier in the month.

Even earlier in the month, the TTC also had to launch investigations and suspend its work car fleet after Line 2 faced two major closures related to hydraulic fluid spills.