Toronto stinks on Day 4 of trash strike

TORONTO, June 25 (UPI) -- Hot, humid weather and no garbage collection for four days had the city of Toronto smelling like rotting food Thursday as strike negotiations continued.

An insider with the Canadian Union of Public Employees told the Toronto Star little had been achieved in talks since 30,000 city workers walked out before sunrise Monday.

The key issues are pay raises equal to what was given emergency workers last year, and the city's desire to drop bankable sick days and replace them with short-term disability insurance.

Meanwhile, residents sweltered in line-ups to drop off bags of garbage at collection sites where strikers limited the number of people entering, local media said. City officials said 19 new temporary drop-off sites for residential garbage would be announced in various parking lots.

Dr. David McKeown, the city's medical officer of health, downplayed fears of disease.

"A well-managed temporary garbage site, even if it's a large one, does not necessarily create a health hazard," he said. "It may be unattractive and cause odors, but this will not cause human disease."

The border city of Windsor, Ontario, is into its 11th week of a garbage strike, but provincial Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday he has no plans to call a special legislative session to force workers back in either city as long as talks are ongoing, the Globe and Mail said.