What to know
- CUPE Local 2, representing about 700 TTC electrical workers, says it is open to involving a mediator as contract negotiations with the TTC continue.
- A provincial no-board report has set up the possibility of a TTC lockout if no agreement is reached by 12:01 a.m. on May 16.
- The union and TTC remain divided on wages, with CUPE saying its proposals have largely been rejected and the TTC arguing its demands exceed industry norms.
- TTC leadership says agreeing to the union’s wage package would significantly increase costs, while the union argues competitive pay is needed to maintain safe and reliable service.
A union representing 700 TTC workers is open to bringing in a mediator as negotiations with the transit agency continue, with the possibility of a lockout raising concerns about transit in the city ahead of World Cup matches next month.
On May 1, CUPE Local 2 president Sumit Guleria, who represents about 700 Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) electrical workers, said in a statement that members are preparing for all outcomes as bargaining continues. He added that the union remains willing to involve a mediator.
“CUPE 2 has informed the TTC that it is prepared to bring in a mediator to help reach a fair agreement. Its members are preparing for all outcomes, including a lockout or strike,” Guleria said.
Last week, the province issued a no-board report to the TTC, allowing the agency to lock out CUPE Local 2 employees if an agreement is not reached by 12:01 a.m. on May 16.
Workers have been without a contract since March 31 and have been bargaining since mid-March.
The union says wages are among the key issues under negotiation. It also notes that while several items have been agreed upon, most stem from employer proposals, with few union proposals accepted so far.
“We have only been bargaining since late March, and the TTC’s offer is not where it needs to be,” Guleria said.
Last week, TTC CEO Mandeep Lali said the union’s wage demands exceed other agreements in the sector as well as inflation projections.
Lali said accepting the union’s proposal would increase compensation costs by approximately $86,000 per employee over a three-year agreement.
In his latest statement, Guleria defended the union’s wage proposal, saying competitive pay is essential to maintaining a safe and reliable transit system.
“Our members are falling behind comparable public sector jobs, despite performing highly specialized work that is unique in this country,” he said.
With Toronto set to host several FIFA World Cup matches beginning in June, Lali has said the TTC is committed to ensuring transit service remains uninterrupted during that period.
