Deal reached in Toronto garbage strike

TORONTO, July 27 (UPI) -- Striking Toronto garbage workers said Monday they've reached an agreement with the city to end their 36-day walkout.

Mark Ferguson, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 416, told reporters the union's bargaining committee had reached the "framework for a deal" 10 hours after a self-imposed deadline of midnight Sunday, The Globe and Mail reported.

"The deal we reached we believe to be a fair deal," Ferguson said. "It's a deal that we are proud of."

Ferguson said the 6,200 striking outdoors workers, which include garbage collectors as well as drivers and paramedics, could be back on the job by as early as Thursday. Unnamed union officials also told the Globe and Mail hopes were high a deal was near for CUPE Local 79, which represents indoors municipal workers.

The strike had idled curbside garbage collection in Toronto, forcing the opening of temporary dump sites, and had also shut down playgrounds and recreation centers as well as day care centers.

Ferguson told reporters he was ready to walk away from the bargaining table as late as 7 a.m. Monday after all-night, post-deadline negotiations, but that the city pulled its last concession demand from the table. He indicated that if Local 79 could wrap a deal as well, a ratification vote could be held by Wednesday, allowing workers to return the next day, the National Post reported.

The main issues were wages, seniority and a demanded end for a program that allows workers to bank, carry over and cash out sick pay upon retirement, the Globe and Mail said.