“labour dispute”

As you are likely aware, our employees voted down the City’s “final offer” which included a 10% pay increase and no reduction in benefits or job security.

Of the City’s 3500 inside workers, 48% either voted against the strike or didn’t vote at all. Only 52% of our total workforce took the time to vote for a strike. It is very significant how low the turnout was considering how important an issue this was to the union leadership.

Given that limited job action has commenced, I want to advise you that I have instructed our City Manager to begin with the implementation of our contingency plan.

The contingency plan will ensure that as many essential municipal services continue operating during labour action.

As many of you have heard in the media, the City and its unions have been in the process of negotiating a new collective agreement.

Over the last several weeks, I have been holding daily briefings with our senior staff on the labour situation and will continue to monitor the situation closely. As you know, it is not in anyone’s best interest to have a strike and our negotiating team is doing everything possible to avoid a labour disruption.