TTC’s strike suspended as electrical and trade workers reached a tentative deal

More than 650 electrical and trade workers for the Toronto Transit Commission avoided a strike action Monday.

 

After months of bargaining, including a weekend of what the union called intense negotiations, the TTC and CUPE Local 2 came to a tentative agreement over what’s been the prime focus lately: equitable wages.

 

“This tentative agreement is a significant win for our members, reinforcing our commitment to their well-being and the safety of all Torontonians,” said Sumit Guleria, president for Local

 

Specific details of the settlement will not be disclosed until union members have had the opportunity to review and vote on the agreement.

 

“The negotiated wages will provide much needed relief from the rising cost of living, helping our workers cope with increasing expenses and ensuring a fair standard of living for themselves and their families,” Guleria’s statement continued.

 

TTC CEO Rick Leary said in a statement early Monday the deal is “affordable for the TTC and respectful of the important work the 650 members of CUPE Local 2 do every day to keep our system safe and our service reliable.”

 

Collective efforts from the transit agency and union “ensured a fair deal” for both sides, echoed TTC Chair and Councillor Jamaal Myers.

 

“Lastly, but most importantly, this deal will keep our city moving without any delays or disruptions,” he continued.

It’s unclear what the impacts would have been if workers responsible for keeping transit infrastructure safe were headed to the picket lines.

 

Should the strike have happened, it would have been the first in more than a decade among unionized TTC employees, following a landmark 2023 court ruling that overturned a ban on TTC workers striking.

 

The workers, who include streetcar overhead and subway signal maintainers, have been without a contract since 2022, and voted in favour of a strike mandate on Feb. 8.

 

Both Local 2 and the TTC are expected to address reporters outside of City Hall Monday morning.

 

 

 

This article was first reported by The Star