The TTC could be in a position to lock out hundreds of unionized electrical and trades workers next month after filing a no-board request to the province on Friday — a step the union said seems to be an attempt to rush contract talks before World Cup games in the city in June.
“What we’ve seen from the TTC so far is escalation,” said Sumit Guleria, president of CUPE Local 2, which represents the 700 TTC workers, in a statement to the Star. The TTC has brushed past attempts at “meaningful negotiations,” he said, and this latest move “raises serious questions about whether the focus is on bargaining or applying pressure to reach a deal ahead of the World Cup, at a time when our members are facing a cost-of-living crisis.”
TTC CEO Mandeep Lali said in a statement the transit agency is “resolute in our commitment to ensure we’re doing everything possible to provide uninterrupted transit service” for regular riders, as well as visitors during the World Cup. Starting June 12, Toronto is set to host six games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The TTC’s request to Ontario’s Labour Ministry for a no-board report would waive the appointment of conciliators to try and negotiate an agreement. It is usually a signal that contract talks have stalled. If the province files the report next week, a 17-day countdown will be triggered, at the end of which workers could either go on strike or be forced off the job.
“The TTC decided that requesting the no-board report was the best way to encourage meaningful, good-faith negotiations,” said Lali. “Requesting a no-board report creates the structural foundation to reach an agreement before (the World Cup) kicks off in Toronto on June 12.” He said the transit agency is available for negotiations 24 hours a day.
Earlier this month, members of CUPE Local 2 voted 99.5 per cent in favour of a strike mandate. Workers in the union include communications, electrical and signal control employees. The union did not respond to a question about what sort of disruptions could be expected if members went on strike.
The TTC said in the event of a strike or lockout, it has “robust contingency plans in place” and is “prepared to act” but indicated there could be “potential,” unspecified, impacts to service.
Local 2 said in a statement that receiving the strike mandate was “necessary to achieve a fair collective agreement.” Their last four-year agreement expired March 31. Negotiations began in January.
“Our members want to be treated with fairness and respect at the bargaining table,” said Guleria.” They are proud of the work they do to keep Toronto’s transit system running safely, and they deserve an agreement that reflects the value of that work.”
The TTC narrowly averted a strike by Local 2 workers in 2022, inking an eleventh hour deal with them just before the union’s strike deadline. Guleria called the agreement “a significant win” at the time.
