Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union which represents workers in over 70 City of Toronto divisions, has provided notice to bargain a new collective agreement.

The union represents City workers across sectors like public health, emergency services, childcare, social services, long-term care and recreation. The union’s current five-year agreement with the City of Toronto is set to expire December 31, 2024, and CUPE Local 79 leadership is prepared to enter bargaining talks.

This bargaining period comes at an unprecedented time for Toronto and its workers, where the cost of living has skyrocketed to the point that CUPE Local 79 members can’t afford to live in the city they serve. This in turn has led to staff retention issues, further compounding the stress and strains on city workers. As a result, the union is committed to advocating for a fair contract that properly addresses what it takes to live, work and thrive in this city.

“Many of our members have told us they’re struggling to survive, and four out of five of our members say their quality of life has diminished since our last agreement,” says Nas Yadollahi, President, CUPE Local 79. “The negligence from the City of Toronto means our members are working in crumbling facilities and struggling to fulfill their roles. Ultimately, the City has failed to provide the proper supports for its staff.”

Toronto’s workers and residents are already seeing the effect of the City’s lack of supports, as workers leave for other jurisdictions with manageable workloads and a living wage.

“Our members ensure our drinking water is safe, support our city’s most vulnerable residents, and keep our communities livable,” says Yadollahi. “If the City of Toronto believes its residents are worth providing quality services, then the people who deliver those services are worth a fair contract.”

CUPE Local 79 represents 30,000 workers at the City of Toronto, delivering a wide range of services, including: public health, planning, City Hall operations, employment & social services, cleaning, court services, ambulance dispatch, child care, 311, recreation programming, shelters, water & food inspection, and long-term care.

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