Labour updates

The TTC and CUPE Local 2 have been working to reach a fair and negotiated collective agreement. Talks have been productive and professional and I’m pleased that we are still at the table.

CUPE Local 2 represents about 650 electrical skilled trades workers who keep our subway and streetcar systems running safely and reliably.

While I remain optimistic we can reach an agreement at the table that prevents a strike, we also need to be honest and let our employees know there could be job action next week that impacts their work. In addition, we need to let our customers know that there could be impacts to their TTC trips.

Labour negotiations are not typically easy or straightforward, and this is the first time in 13 years TTC employees have had the ability to strike.

However, I believe the mandate our Board has approved, and our offers within that mandate, is fair to the workers and affordable for the TTC and we will continue to negotiate in good faith.

In the unlikely event a deal cannot be reached and job action commences, we will let our employees and customers know what the impacts are as soon as possible.

Public updates will be posted at www.ttc.ca/LabourDisruption as well as through @TTCNotices and @TTCHelps on X. We will also make sure that there will be direct communication with employees.

Rick Leary
TTC CEO

The TTC and CUPE Local 2 (electrical skilled trades) have been working to reach a fair negotiated collective agreement. Employees in this group include streetcar overhead and subway signal maintainers, among others.

Although negotiations are ongoing, Local 2 has advised that its members will begin strike action on Monday, April 22, should an agreement not be reached. Both Local 2 and TTC representatives remain at the bargaining table with the intention of reaching a negotiated settlement without the need for job action.

Last November, the TTC Board approved a bargaining mandate. We are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to Local 2 employees while being affordable for the taxpayers of Toronto.

I am committed to keeping our employees and customers apprised of any changes related to these negotiations in a timely manner. We encourage all our employees to check our website at www.ttc.ca/strike for the most current updates.

In the meantime, we will continue to negotiate in good faith with the ultimate goal being an agreement that avoids job action and service disruptions.

The TTC and CUPE Local 2 (electrical skilled trades) have been working to reach a fair negotiated collective agreement. Employees in this group include streetcar overhead and subway signal maintainers among others.

Although negotiations are ongoing, yesterday, CUPE Local 2 members voted in favour of a strike mandate. While members are technically in a legal strike position now, both CUPE and TTC representatives remain at the bargaining table with the intention of reaching a negotiated settlement without the need for job action.

Last November, the TTC Board approved a bargaining mandate. We’re committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to Local 2 employees while being affordable for the taxpayers of Toronto.

In the wake of a 2023 court ruling, this is the first time in nearly 13 years any unionized TTC employees would be able to take job action, up to and including a work stoppage. Again, our hope is that Local 2 remains at the table and its members do not initiate job action.

I want to assure everyone that we have contingency plans in place and we will keep everyone advised of them once we know what Local 2 decides to do. Our contingency plans are designed to allow us to preserve as much service as possible while also respecting the rights of this group of employees. The plans also take into consideration the ability of other employees to do their jobs during a labour disruption and how we would accommodate them.

My top commitment remains the safety of our employees and customers, and delivering reliable service without compromise. However, I also believe that any job action could have an impact on the TTC’s ability to deliver full service without disruption.

The TTC values the challenging work all our 17,000 employees do every day to deliver safe and reliable service to millions of riders every week – the employees in Local 2 are an important part of our operations.

I am committed to keeping our customers and employees apprised of any changes related to these negotiations in a timely manner. We encourage all our employees and our customers to check our website at www.ttc.ca/labourdisruption for the most current updates.

In the meantime, we will continue to negotiate in good faith with the ultimate goal being an agreement that avoids job action and service disruptions.

Rick Leary

As of April 22, CUPE Local 2’s members are currently on strike. This job action includes a full withdrawal of work.

 

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2 is a union of approximately 650 workers at the TTC. Local 2 includes electricians, substation electricians, cable and telephone technicians, relay and instrumentation technicians, communications technicians, signal technicians, overhead streetcar linespersons and power control technicians.

The collective agreement between TTC and Local 2 expired in March 2022. In 2022 and 2023, the TTC and Local 2 engaged in collective bargaining but were not able to reach a negotiated settlement. In accordance with the legislation in effect at the time, arbitration was scheduled to reach an agreement. The legislation forcing an arbitrated outcome was struck down in May 2023 and bargaining resumed in January 2024. On February 8, 2024, the union membership voted in favour of a strike mandate, and on April 11, they announced they would go on strike on April 22 if a negotiated agreement was not reached. 

 

Yes. Following a 2023 court ruling, unionized TTC employees can now take job action, up to and including striking, for the first time since 2008.

As part of our commitment to bargaining in good faith, any conversation at the bargaining table is confidential and cannot be shared outside the bargaining room.

The TTC has successfully renewed collective agreements with two bargaining units in 2024 and also implemented fair cost-of-living adjustments for non-union staff. Our efforts have been focused on reaching a fair and reasonable agreement with all unions representing our valued employees. 

As with any strike, unionized workers may choose to picket work locations to communicate their concerns, often using signs or printed materials. While picketing, access to TTC worksites or locations may be delayed. 

At this time, CUPE Local 2 has not informed the TTC of specific picket locations. We will share this information with TTC employees as soon as we are made aware.

In the event of picketing, TTC employees should follow the Guidelines for Crossing Picket Lines.

The safety of TTC employees and customers is always our top priority. If you encounter an unsafe situation due to the ongoing labour situation, please inform a TTC Picket Line Monitor or security guard immediately and/or contact Transit Control at 416-393-3555. Picket Line Monitors will be wearing a TTC orange vest. Transit Control will dispatch TTC Special Constables, Toronto Police Services and/or other first responder personnel as required.

1. The collective agreement must have expired.
2. A provincial Conciliation Officer must have been appointed and a No Board report issued.
3. A strike vote must have been held.
4. Passage of 17 days from the issuance of the no-board report

All conditions for Local 2 have been met, which means they are currently in a legal strike position.

Once the union and the employer reach a tentative agreement, it will be brought to a ratification vote. If the membership votes to ratify the new agreement, the strike is over.