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City of Toronto, workers' union reach 11th-hour tentative agreement

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • March 8, 2025

Toronto City Hall is seen illuminated at night in downtown Toronto on Friday, February 10, 2023. The City of Toronto and a union representing thousands of municipal workers say they have reached a tentative agreement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

TORONTO -- The City of Toronto and CUPE Local 79, which represents thousands of municipal workers, say they have reached a tentative agreement.

The deal came just before the 12:01 a.m. Saturday deadline for a strike or lockout, which would have caused the shutdown of city-run child-care and recreation centres.

The union says in a press release that it secured wage increases and an end to minimum-wage jobs for the duration of the agreement, should it be ratified.

Earlier this week, the city tabled what it described as a final offer to the union, which included a 14.95 per cent wage increase for all positions.

Union leadership said at the time it was preparing a counter-proposal and workers planned to strike starting on Monday if a deal couldn't be reached.

A city statement says details of the agreement will stay confidential until union members and city council review and ratify it.

This report by was first published March 8, 2025.