End in sight for Toronto garbage strike

TORONTO, July 30 (UPI) -- Toronto's 39-day-old garbage and services strike appeared on track to end Thursday with a settlement by one union local and the second set to vote.

Some 24,000 inside workers ratified a contract offer from the city Wednesday, but the local that represents 6,000 outside workers put off their ratification vote for further negotiations, the Toronto Star said.

The main sticking point was the city's demand to bring in private contractors to help clear more than 20 temporary dumps set up in parks and parking lots, the Globe and Mail reported.

The president of the outside workers local told reporters he had met the city halfway on the issue and both locals could be back on the job at 12:01 a.m. Friday if his members ratify the offer.

The city council was scheduled to meet to endorse the contracts Friday morning. Some councilors have accused Mayor David Miller of selling out on wage increases of nearly six percent over three years, the Toronto Sun reported.

Additionally, Miller's goal of eliminating bankable sick days was watered down so that only new hires must accept short-term disability coverage instead, the Sun said. Non-union city workers were stripped of the option of sick-day accumulation and also were put on pay freezes last year.