The city of Toronto’s requested a ”no board” report from the provincial labour minister regarding collective bargaining with CUPE Local 416 – which represents the city’s outside workers.

The city says there’s been ”little progress,” and so has taken the next legal step.

In response, CUPE Local 79, which represents inside employees, has also filed a ”no board” report.

When the city and a local are notified of such a report, a union will be in a legal strike position and the city in a legal lockout position in approximately 17 days after its release.

Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Chair of the City’s Employee and Labour Relations Committee says ”We are very serious when we say that the status quo is not sustainable.  And with this step we are signalling the need for both parites to roll up their sleeves and get to work to find a deal.” 

Local 79 President Tim Maguire says, ”In reaction to the City’s request for a no board at Local 416’s table, we’ve decided to request a no board as well, as many of the cuts facing Local 416 are also facing Local 79 – we need to be addressing the same issues in a coordinated manner.”

In the event of a labour disruption, the city says it has a contingency plan in place that addresses key services.