Toronto Trash Strike Continues, City Faces Mountains of Waste
A couple of weeks ago, we reported on the looming trash strike in Toronto that, if put in place, would disrupt the lives of thousands in the city.
Just as feared, the trash strike was official at midnight on June 21 as an estimated 24,000 workers walked off the job. In response, the City shut down summer camps, swimming pools, golf courses, wading pools and community centers.
According to UPI.com, striking workers picketed at several of the city's garbage drop-off centers, allowing only one person in every 15 minutes. Photo: Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC
The strike is the result of disparity between civic workers and the City of Toronto on contract talks with issues including job security, seniority and a contested proposal by the city to scrap employees’ ability to bank sick days and cash them out on retirement.
“We initially called for a strike vote in hopes that that would focus the minds and get the city truly negotiating,” Mark Ferguson, president of Toronto Civic Employees Union CUPE Local 416 told CBC News. “That didn’t work. We then asked for a no-board report hoping that was going to get the city moving and truly negotiating. That didn’t work.”
So, What’s Life Like in Toronto Now?
After one week of the strike, Toronto is now facing a huge problem: illegal dumping. Trash bins are overflowing, and some residents are now throwing their waste on to the streets. As Mayor David Miller pleaded with residents to not make the situation worse, the problem is still growing in leaps and bounds.
Tuesday is usually the first day of regular garbage pickup in Toronto, but the city has asked residents to keep trash in their homes for at least a week before trying to dispose of it. Photo: Jean Carter/CBC News
“It is becoming clear that there is a small group of people that are taking advantage of this strike to use Toronto as their personal dumping ground,” Miller told reporters at a news conference.
However, despite the mountain of waste, officials are hopeful, almost optimistic that the strike will end soon. According to Miller, striking workers and the City are in negotiation, which is a “good sign.”
Some private organizations are doing their part to collect as much trash as possible, while tacking on a fee. But it’s a small dent in the thousands of pounds of waste on Toronto’s streets.
Deputy City Manager Sue Cork said on June 23 that if the strike continues through June 29, “all city-run Canada Day events” on July 1 will be canceled. So far, the strike has closed 57 city-run childcare centers and several city programs.
Furthermore, public access to city hall, Metro hall, North York and Scarborough civic centers has been restricted. Now the fear is that many residents and tourists will leave town. The last garbage strike was in 2002 and lasted 16 days.
Toronto Trash Strike Continues, City Faces Mountains of Waste
posted on June 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
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scott
posted on June 29th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
this is ridiculous….JOB SECURITY well crap don’t these workers know that as long as there is garbage they have a JOB. SENORITY well the last time I knew senority was and still is based on tenure so therefore, gives a person senority over the newer workers….BANKING SICK DAYS AND CASHING IN ON THEM WHEN RETIRED…This last one has me in stitches, this benefit is about the funniest thing I have ever heard of; what company (city in this case) will ever allow this; so in other words, the union wants to line their pockets with even more money and the emploees’ are what trying to become MILLIONAIRES at retirement (try saving money for retirement like all of us HARD WORKERS with much much lower wages.
I know for a fact the city workers all over are well paid for their job maybe to well paid, lets see these people work for low wages that alot of people in Toronto are doing. I don’t find it hard to toss garbage around and being paid over $20.00 per hour.
I think the city should try and scrap this union crap lay off the workers and re-hire those that really want to WORK cause there are alot of people out there that would love to have their jobs even if it is a smelly one.
Wayne
posted on June 29th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
The peopel of this once proud city have shown me their true colours. The strike is only a week old and the piles of garbage are getting bigger at every location around the city. How is it that anyone can have this much waste in a week? This city and everyone in it has to start to realize we can not just toss everything away at will. Our household manages to only throw out one shopping bag sized bag every week. Don’t tell me you can not do this! We have 2 adults and 3 children in our household. We recycle all cans, paper, plastic and compost. Our recycling bins fill up faster then the garbage bins do in fact most weeks we do not even put the garbage bins out. This should be the time we all join together and help each other out, instead we throw our garbage in the parks, the street and complain. I say start charging everyone $2 a bag and see how much they start throwing away!
Annie
posted on July 1st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I see cardboard boxes. Recycle, please?
Omowole Fola
posted on July 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Quite interesting; well appaling to read this sort coming from an ‘advanced’ society. In most developing societies like in Nigeria however, such is not a news.
Meanwhile, we just have to remember that ‘there is much dignity in tilling the ground (or otherwise packing the gabbage) as in writing the poem’. A labourer deserves his/her pay!!
Regards,
Fola
Bob Myers
posted on July 8th, 2009 at 11:26 am
This seems like a good way for the union to benefit while telling everyone it’s the “workers” that they are truly interested in.
Speaking of “big business”…the union is one of the largest.
geo
posted on July 10th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Each year my taxes go up and I get less for them. I used to get my garbage picked up twice a week. Now I have to store it for two weeks in a huge bin that just gets in the way along with the re-cycling bin. I pity the folk that don’t have a garage to hide these hideous things and have to leave them on their front lawn or porch. We have to reverse this trend. Fewer councillors at city hall is a start. This will speed up debates and save money. Rescind council’s recent pay hike would be the next step. Anyone remember Ronnie Regan’s approach to the air traffic controllers’ strike? Fire them all! There are lots of people willing to do the job without banking half a year’s sick days. This is ridiculous. David Miller’s latest public offer of a 7% raise over the next 4 years is way too generous. Don’t cave in David! You can fire them and take the credit for a bold move that is probably necessary at this time. It may even get you re-elected. By the way..don’t forget to scrap that “cost of living” raise for all your team. If you don’t, kiss your re-election goodbye. As for the rest of us, we should cut back on what we throw out. Maybe 2 bucks a big is a very good idea.
David
posted on July 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 am
Toronto garbage collection was a joke pre-strike. I moved to London, England 2 years ago. I was amazed that collectors will come right onto my property, remove ALL garbage, and then come back the following week with a smile on their face. No issues whatsoever.
In Toronto, I have had garbage collection refuse to take bags (I have a multi-unit dwelling and it is registered as such, but they don’t really care). I have been told off by workers for putting garbage on a step next to the sidewalk. When I moved it onto the sidewalk, I was later told off for putting it on the sidewalk when it should be on the step. Don’t even get me started about the new “utility” tax for this fabulous service.
The service is pathetic and needs a complete overhaul.