Toronto the Good is looking more like Toronto the Gross as a strike by civic workers enters its sixth day.
Garbage is piling up around the city and sidewalks are crowded with litter as 24,000 employees continue a job action that began on Monday.
Mayor David Miller has indicated that negotiations are progressing, but union officials disagree: they say they are prepared for a long walkout.
At issue are benefits, including sick days, seniority rights, job security and scheduling. Employees want to keep 18 sick days a year which can be banked and cashed out at retirement. But the City wants to create short-term disability programs instead.
Because of the strike, many Canada Day events have been cancelled. All City-run celebrations and those that had permits to take place on City property have been called off.
If the strike ends by the end of the weekend (Sunday, June 28), some of these events may be able to go ahead, on a modified basis:
- Amesbury Canada Day, Amesbury Park
- Ashbridges Bay Fireworks
- Canada Day Event, Earlscourt Park
- Somali-Canada Day, Earl Bales Park
- Ontario Australian Football Championships, Colonel Samuel Smith Park
- Peanut Town Festival, Oriole Park - North
- East York Toronto Canada Day, Stan Wadlow Park
- MPP Canada Day Event - Don Valley West MPP, Flemingdon Park
- Shomoy Mela, Detonia Park
- Canada Day Celebrations, Thompson Memorial Park/ Miliken District Park
- Canada Day Celebration, St.James Park
- New Country Canada Day Jam, Woodbine Park
- 16th Annual Neighbours Together, Riverdale Park East
- Canada Day Festival, Kew Gardens
- Canada Day, Mel Lastman Square
All City-run scheduled events at Nathan Phillips Square, Metro Square, other civic squares and in parks have been cancelled due to the labour disruption.
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