The city met its negotiating objectives, which were approved during several months of Council working committee meetings. The agreements were also ratified by majorities of members of both unions. The wage agreement is similar (and slightly less than) to other recent public sector agreements. At the end of the day, if both parties behaved completely, an arbitrator would have been called. Experience shows that arbitrators tend to use current models as a model. The collective agreements negotiated by the working committee are expected to save the city more than $140 million over the next six years. The « external workers » of the City of Toronto, members of the Toronto Employees Union (TTC), Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 416), have ratified a five-year collective agreement. Last week, the City Council approved new collective agreements with Residents 416 and 79, which save the city money and provide the services on which we depend. The agreement negotiated between the parties achieves the objectives of CUPE 416 and the mandate that the members have given to their negotiating committee. Following the ratification of the agreement by Toronto City Council today, negotiations were concluded between CUPE 416 and the City of Toronto. As far as the health program is concerned. We intend to replace the defective and costly program with a short-term plan for people with disabilities.
Everyone knew it would be difficult. Unions are even more strong advocates of existing benefits than wage increases. In Canada and in all other democracies, employers cannot simply impose contracts on unionized workers. Employers set bargaining goals and strive to achieve them. We`ve reached our own. It would have been a dangerous game to continue to allow people to suffer hypothetical small improvements. . . .
Could we have done better? I doubt it. As I said, I think we have done better than similar municipalities. We have certainly done better than an arbitral award. The Burkett Arbitration Award between the City of Toronto and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 3888 for the term of office from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014. Strikes are a difficult part of our democracy. I can`t tell you how relieved I am that this strike is over. . « We have always believed that a freely negotiated, fair agreement to the city and our members, which protects vital public services for residents, is achievable, » said Eddie Mariconda, President of CUPE 416.