​City Council unanimously ratified the four (4) five-year agreements with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union representing the City’s 24,000 inside workers. This follows the ratification by CUPE Local 79 members on June 27.
 
The City and the union reached a negotiated settlement in March 2020, however the COVID-19 response efforts prevented ratification until now.
 
The details of the 5-year agreement include:

• Wage increases

§   1% per year for the first three years
§   1.75% per year for the last two years 

• Cap on erectile dysfunction drugs
• Dependents 18 years of age and under are able to obtain up to three pairs of orthotics or orthopedic devices a year
• Establishment of the Joint Benefits Committee to continue to work on the affordability and sustainability of the City’s benefit program
• Increased the maximum amount for psychologist services from $300 per benefit year to $1,000 per benefit year
• Changes to parental leave that fairly address recent changes to the Federal EI program, while increasing the top-up percentage so employees can receive the increased top-up payments for up to 12 months or elect to spread the same dollar value of the top-up payments over a period of up to 18 months.
• Continue to limit job security to employees who have reached 15 years seniority with the cut-off date extended to as of December 31, 2024.

 
CUPE Local 79 represents four bargaining units: Full-time; Unit B, Part-time; Long-Term Care Homes & Services, Part-time; and Recreation Workers, Part-time.
 
In March, the City reached a final agreement with TCEU Local 416 that was also ratified by the union membership and approved by City Council.
 
Quotes:
 
"I’m pleased that we came to a fair agreement in these negotiations. COVID-19 delayed our ratification, but today we have a five-year agreement that is timely, affordable, and responsible. I’d like to thank our staff who are continuing to deliver excellent services for our city during this pandemic. I appreciate their dedication and hard work for our residents."
- Mayor John Tory
 
"The bargaining committees for both City and CUPE Local 79 worked hard to come to an agreement without a labour disruption. I thank them for their efforts in delivering a fair outcome for both employees and the residents of our city."
- Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Chair of the Collective Bargaining Subcommittee
 
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit http://www.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

Yalla Magazine - ​The City of Toronto continues to respond to COVID-19. Torontonians are reminded to continue adhering to Toronto Public Health’s advice to wash their hands often, stay within their social circle of no more than 10 people, and practise physical distancing, or wear a face covering or non-medical mask to protect others when in settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.


There are 14,280 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 84 cases since yesterday. There are 230 people hospitalized, with 55 in ICU. In total, 12,391 people have recovered from COVID-19, an increase of 99 cases since yesterday. To date, there have been 1,084 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform at https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.


Provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act orders, the City bylaw on physical distancing, and laws prohibiting consumption of alcohol on City property and in unlicensed public areas remain in effect. As COVID-19 continues to circulate, residents visiting a beach or park must practise physical distancing and avoid crowding. Yesterday, the City received 69 complaints related to parks use and physical distancing. Bylaw officers issued 10 tickets yesterday in City parks or squares. Officers have spoken to or cautioned more than 7,200 people this month.

​
The City has created additional signage about alcohol consumption and littering in parks and is deploying bylaw enforcement resources in busy parks and beaches today. Those found littering face fines of up to $500. Bonfires and the consumption of alcohol are also not permitted in parks, beaches or public spaces. Enforcement officers will issue tickets related to the consumption of alcohol and bonfires, with fines of up to $300.


Residents and businesses are reminded to have their say on how Toronto can recover, rebuild and emerge from this pandemic even stronger. Take the Recovery & Rebuilding Toronto survey before June 30: https://s.cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=197672&d=e&h=D1504B76C413391&l=en.


The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports and economic recovery measures. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.


Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit http://www.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

Yalla Magazine - ​The city of Toronto is the fastest growing city and the Toronto CMA is the fastest growing metropolitan area in all of Canada and U.S. in terms of population growth, according to the latest research from the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Ryerson University.

As one of the most livable and diverse cities in the world, the city of Toronto grew by close to 46,000 people in 2019.

The research shows Toronto’s strong position before the global COVID-19 pandemic and will motivate the City to continue that success through the restart and recovery period.

Construction, a key indicator of economic vitality, is booming in Toronto. The city is also benefiting from a surge of investment in public infrastructure and transit to meet the needs of this rapidly expanding region.

Union Station, Canada’s busiest, most important multi-modal passenger transportation hub has undergone a major redevelopment. Toronto’s waterfront revitalization is the largest urban renewal project currently underway in North America. The ground-breaking Regent Park Revitalization project is transforming the former 69-acre social-housing development into a self-sufficient mixed income, multi-use community.

In the past 40 years, Toronto’s downtown population more than doubled and in excess of one-third of all jobs in the city are now within the core.

Toronto region is home to more than 6.47 million people with a diverse population where nearly 50 per cent of people are born outside of Canada. Toronto’s globally-connected residents are the driving force behind its economic prosperity and innovation. As the fourth-largest city in North America, Toronto is Canada’s business and financial capital, with the second-largest financial centre and the third-largest tech sector in North America.

Toronto is competitive in almost every major business sector from technology and life sciences to green energy; from fashion and design to food and beverage; from film and television production to music and digital media. Toronto’s rich industrial diversity drives growth, innovation and cross-sectoral synergies. Knowledge spillovers have produced new leading-edge hybrid sectors including med-tech, green-tech and food-tech.

The City of Toronto continues to work with communities to create a green, liveable city that fosters creativity and opportunity.

For more information on Toronto’s economy, visit https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/.

Quote:

“I’m incredibly proud of the growth we saw in the City of Toronto again last year, as one of the most livable and diverse cities around the world. Toronto is Canada's economic engine - home to residents with incredible talent and innovative businesses. The steady increase in population helps fuel the economy and will be an important part of our recovery efforts as we emerge from this pandemic absolutely determined for our city to come back stronger than ever.”

- Toronto Mayor John Tory

"Toronto’s success relies on the strength and growth of its people whose diversity, experiences and resilience make this great city a dynamic, progressive and welcoming place to live and work."

- City Manager Chris Murray

Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit http://www.toronto.ca or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CityofToronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.