TTC strike threat looms over FIFA World Cup in Toronto

Unionized communications and electrical workers at the TTC are approaching a potential work stoppage as contract negotiations continue without a deal, just a few weeks before the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup is set to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Toronto.

Workers represented by CUPE Local 2 have already given their union a strike mandate, with a work stoppage possible as early as this weekend.

As of Wednesday, CUPE Local 2 is in a legal strike position after its collective agreement expired in March. A no board report issued by the Ministry of Labour last month also indicates that the two sides are far from reaching a deal, increasing the possibility of service disruptions ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The union represents approximately 700 communications, electrical, and signal workers at the TTC, including subway single maintainers and streetcar overhead workers.

In a statement released on Tuesday, TTC CEO Mandeep S. Lali confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.

"Let me be clear. The TTC values the important and highly skilled work performed by CUPE Local 2 members. I began my career as a transit electrician, and I understand the safety-critical nature of this work. At the same time, the TTC has an obligation to manage public resources responsibly," Lali said.

"Every dollar committed at the bargaining table is a dollar paid by taxpayers and riders, and every long-term cost decision has consequences for service reliability and affordability." 

Lali emphasized that the union's current proposal would add roughly $40 million in additional costs over the term of the agreement, on top of a compensation package that "already places CUPE Local 2 members at the high end of the public sector pay and benefits spectrum," which includes a 25 per cent premium for Sunday work and double an employee's regular hourly rate for overtime work.

"Taken together, the union's proposal is not fair, reasonable or affordable for the TTC, and it is not aligned with what other TTC employees or most Torontonians can expect to earn over the next three years," Lali added.

"The TTC cannot agree to proposals that place an unfair burden on taxpayers, customers and thousands of other frontline TTC employees."

In a statement last month, CUPE Local 2 President Sumit Guleria said that in negotiations with the TTC, the union has seen escalation, including moving to conciliation before meaningful negotiations took place.

"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," Guleria 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."

At an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, Premier Doug Ford urged the transit agency and its unionized workers to "come to their senses" and reach a deal to avoid any possible service disruptions.

"I never take one side over the other. Let's sit in the room, lock the door and they can come out with a deal. We have been going through this for decades and decades on many negotiations," Ford said.

"First, put the people in Toronto that's hosting it ahead of the negotiations, maybe they can take a break and go back to work and support a world-class event like FIFA. That would go a long way for the people of Ontario to see that happen."

The union will be in a legal strike position on Saturday, when the TTC will also be in a legal lockout position.