CUPE Local 79, a union representing 30,000 Toronto city workers, voted in favour of a strike mandate on Tuesday.
The sectors under the city include public health, planning, City Hall operations, employment and social services, ambulance dispatch, child care, and 311, among others.
“Today, our membership has given us a clear sign that they expect to see an end to a climate of austerity and that their work is worth being able to earn enough to live in the city they serve,” said Nas Yadollahi, President of CUPE Local 79.
Tor Sandberg, a spokesperson for CUPE Local 79, said the city is experiencing “a crisis in retention and recruitment after nearly two decades of austerity and underinvestment.”
“Since 2019, the vacancy rate in positions at the City of Toronto has increased by 65 per cent. That increase is most notable in long-term care, where vacancies have ballooned 700 per cent since the pandemic,” Sandberg said.
The union highlighted Toronto’s emergency and ambulance services, saying several employees have been forced to leave “in droves” due to burnout and being underpaid.
“We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and will continue bringing solutions to these crises to the bargaining table,” Sandberg said.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was asked about the strike mandate on Tuesday, saying negotiations are ongoing, but refused to elaborate further.