Toronto city workers are pushing for better pay and conditions as staffing issues worsen
Toronto: The CUPE Local 79 union, which represents around 30,000 city workers, just voted to support a strike mandate. This decision comes as they face serious staffing issues across various sectors.
These sectors include public health, city planning, and even emergency services. The union’s president, Nas Yadollahi, emphasized that workers want fair pay to live in the city they serve.
Spokesperson Tor Sandberg pointed out that the city is struggling with retention and recruitment. After years of budget cuts, the situation has become critical.
Since 2019, the vacancy rate for city jobs has shot up by 65%. Long-term care positions are especially hard to fill, with vacancies skyrocketing by 700% since the pandemic hit.
Many workers in emergency and ambulance services are leaving due to burnout and low pay. Sandberg reassured that they are committed to negotiating fairly and finding solutions.
When asked about the strike mandate, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said negotiations are still in progress but didn’t provide any further details.
