City of Toronto workers could strike soon and here's how it would impact you
Find out what this means for March Break camps, 311, child care, and more.
Toronto city hall.
There could be a City of Toronto strike soon.
If workers walk off the job, you could be impacted as services across the city come to a halt.
Workers with the CUPE Local 79 union can strike as early as Saturday, March 8, 2025.
The union represents 30,000 City of Toronto workers in planning, city hall operations, employment and social services, cleaning, child care, 311, recreation programming, shelters, and more areas.
"For years, our members — some of the lowest-paid workers keeping this city running — have been falling further and further behind while Toronto's top bureaucrats and executives keep getting richer," said Nas Yadollahi, president of CUPE Local 79, in a strike notice.
"We've been understaffed, underpaid, and undervalued for years," Yadollahi continued.
The union president also revealed that workers and services are "at a breaking point" right now.
"No one wants to be in this position, but we know that residents deserve better, and we're willing to put ourselves on the picket line to demand fairness and respect," Yadollahi said.
If these City of Toronto workers go on strike, there could be impacts across the city.
So, here's how it could affect you.
"Services people rely on every day will come to a halt," said Yadollahi at a press conference back in February.
Recreation programs will be closed, March Break camps will be shut down, child care centres will be closed, calls to 311 will be unanswered, building permits will be delayed, and employment services will stop processing applications.
Yadollahi said that "much, much more" city services would be affected by the strike.
According to the Toronto Star, about 4,800 kids are registered for March Break camps with the city. Refunds will be offered to parents if the strike goes ahead.
Paul Johnson, Toronto's city manager, said there are "contingency plans" to ensure most public services continue if workers strike.
But those services might not run at full capacity.
Emergency services, shelters and long-term care homes won't be affected by the City of Toronto workers strike.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.