Miller makes offer public, wants strike over now

A group of raccoons take advantage of the growing piles of garbage in Toronto's Chinatown neigbourhood, Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Updated Fri. Jul. 10 2009 11:59 AM ET ctvtoronto.ca

Toronto Mayor David Miller made public the city's offer to two striking unions and said he thinks it's enough to put an immediate end to the strike. The offer includes new short-term disability plan, a sick leave payout and a modest salary increase. "It's time to say yes to a deal and in that spirit I'm here to announce that yesterday morning our negotiators tabled an offer that I believe should help us to end this strike today," Miller said at a press conference Friday.

The city is offering a 1, 1, 2, and 3 per cent increase each year of a four year contract. "These increases are fair while reflecting the city's financial circumstances in light of the global recession," Miller said. He said it's always better to negotiate at the table instead of through the media but that "enough is enough." "After more than 160 meetings with the two union locals and provincial conciliators, we're ready to release details of this offer to ensure that Torontonians and city workers are well informed on key bargaining issues," Miller said. "I believe that this offer is fair, affordable and contains what is required to resolve all outstanding issues." The strike by Local 416 and 18,000 inside workers represented by Local 79 began on June 22. The contract expired on Dec. 31.