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Quality Jobs Council Briefing Notes

16 July 2013

Toronto is rapidly becoming polarized by income, with greater concentration of wealth in some areas and a growing number of low-income neighbourhoods. Promoting quality jobs, rather than precarious, low-paying jobs, is essential for reversing this trend.

Read our City Council Briefing Notes supporting recommendations that would make Toronto a more equitable place to live and work.

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34 St Patrick St,
Toronto, ON M5T 1V1

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416 977-1629

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416 977-9546

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CUPE Local 79, the union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers, has reached a tentative agreement with the City after months of negotiations. This outcome stands as a direct result of City workers standing up in historic ways for the public services they take immense pride in delivering. City workers turned out in record numbers to demand better, with 90% voting to approve a strike mandate if a fair deal could not be reached. Throughout the bargaining process, members continued to rally around their demands—signing petitions, sending thousands of emails, attending strike schools, attending practice pickets, and signing up for picket shifts in preparation to take action if necessary. Their organization and solidarity led to meaningful improvements in this agreement. For the first time in the City’s history, CUPE Local 79 has achieved an end to minimum-wage jobs. No City of Toronto worker will earn minimum wage for the duration of this agreement, marking a significant step forward in ensuring fairness and dignity in public sector employment. Additionally, while the City’s initial proposed wage increases were not sufficient, sustained pressure from members led to gains beyond the general wage increases achieved. Through negotiations, a majority of Local 79 members will receive additional pay improvements through special wage adjustments. These measures will go a long way in protecting Toronto’s public services and turning the tide on the recruitment and retention crisis that has plagued the public service for years. For the first time, Local 79 has also negotiated a dollar amount increase for lower wage grade workers alongside the percentage increases for all members. This progressive policy helps reduce the income disparity in the workplace that has grown due to successive percentage-only increases. This agreement ensures that the lowest-paid workers see meaningful wage improvements while still securing strong increases for all members. Workers also fought back against a deal that would have forced them to accept a contract already negotiated with another union—a workforce entirely distinct in its make-up, job classifications, and pay scales.
Political staff at City Hall are one of the first points of contact residents have with the City of Toronto. They work tirelessly to serve the public and to ensure the elected person they assist is equipped and supported to do their work. Like Local 79 members and all other working class people in our city, political staff deserve fairness and respect. Solidarity with the brave political staff who organized their workplace at City Hall and congratulations on being one step closer to joining @amapceo!
Thank you to the supporters who came out today for our information pickets outside of Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre and Parkway Forest Community Centre: @fairwagesnow, MPP @alexangilmour, and former MPP @bhutilakarpoche!
City workers and supporters are holding information pickets today outside Cummer Lodge Long-Term Care Home and Don Montgomery Community Centre to call for investment in @cityofto’s public services. Decades of underfunding and understaffing have left essential services—child care, public health, shelters, recreation, long-term care, and housing support—stretched thin. We’re standing up for strong public services that Toronto residents deserve.
The International Women’s Day March Committee has invited CUPE Local 79 to lead this year’s march, which will end at City Hall in support of Local 79 members—City workers whose membership is over 70% women. Local 79 members are proud to stand alongside allies ahead of the final week of negotiations, with a Sunday-at-midnight strike deadline looming. We are fighting for a fair deal for a union made up mostly of women and racialized workers—workers who have been left behind through years of underinvestment. Join us in the streets as we march for equity and respect. This Saturday at 11 a.m. (rally) and 1 p.m. (march) at OISE - 252 Bloor St. W #IWD2025 #FairContractNow
Hundreds of Local 79 members came out on Sunday for our picket making and solidarity skate. We know our bargaining team is doing everything they can to push for a fair deal - but we have to be ready in case the City decides to force us into a strike this weekend.
CUPE Local 79, the union representing 30,000 City of Toronto workers, has reached a tentative agreement with the City after months of negotiations. This outcome stands as a direct result of City workers standing up in historic ways for the public services they take immense pride in delivering. City workers turned out in record numbers to demand better, with 90% voting to approve a strike mandate if a fair deal could not be reached. Throughout the bargaining process, members continued to rally around their demands—signing petitions, sending thousands of emails, attending strike schools, attending practice pickets, and signing up for picket shifts in preparation to take action if necessary. Their organization and solidarity led to meaningful improvements in this agreement. For the first time in the City’s history, CUPE Local 79 has achieved an end to minimum-wage jobs. No City of Toronto worker will earn minimum wage for the duration of this agreement, marking a significant step forward in ensuring fairness and dignity in public sector employment. Additionally, while the City’s initial proposed wage increases were not sufficient, sustained pressure from members led to gains beyond the general wage increases achieved. Through negotiations, a majority of Local 79 members will receive additional pay improvements through special wage adjustments. These measures will go a long way in protecting Toronto’s public services and turning the tide on the recruitment and retention crisis that has plagued the public service for years. For the first time, Local 79 has also negotiated a dollar amount increase for lower wage grade workers alongside the percentage increases for all members. This progressive policy helps reduce the income disparity in the workplace that has grown due to successive percentage-only increases. This agreement ensures that the lowest-paid workers see meaningful wage improvements while still securing strong increases for all members. Workers also fought back against a deal that would have forced them to accept a contract already negotiated with another union—a workforce entirely distinct in its make-up, job classifications, and pay scales.
Political staff at City Hall are one of the first points of contact residents have with the City of Toronto. They work tirelessly to serve the public and to ensure the elected person they assist is equipped and supported to do their work. Like Local 79 members and all other working class people in our city, political staff deserve fairness and respect. Solidarity with the brave political staff who organized their workplace at City Hall and congratulations on being one step closer to joining @amapceo!
Thank you to the supporters who came out today for our information pickets outside of Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre and Parkway Forest Community Centre: @fairwagesnow, MPP @alexangilmour, and former MPP @bhutilakarpoche!
City workers and supporters are holding information pickets today outside Cummer Lodge Long-Term Care Home and Don Montgomery Community Centre to call for investment in @cityofto’s public services. Decades of underfunding and understaffing have left essential services—child care, public health, shelters, recreation, long-term care, and housing support—stretched thin. We’re standing up for strong public services that Toronto residents deserve.

CUPE Local 79

Keeping Toronto at its best is what gets us up every morning. The work is worth it. And so are we.

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