Talks are 'slow' with city, CUPE Local 79 president says

CUPELocal 79 president Tim Maguiresays talks have "continued to slow" with City ofToronto officials over bargaining a collective agreementand the union says itwill continue to ramp up its work-to-rule campaign.

Maguireupdated the mediaon Wednesday at the Sheraton Centre where negotiations have been taking place.

Reporters asked Maguire when the union would begin escalatingthe work-to-rule campaign, but he did not give an exact date.

"We think we'll continue to ramp up this work-to-rule campaign when we see how it's actually impacting in the workplace and willcontinue building it," said Maguire

On Monday, the city's20,000inside workers represented by CUPE Local 79began a work-to-rule campaign,but they did notwalk off the job.

• CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire offers work to rule campaign details

Workerscontinue to perform core duties, but none outside of their job descriptions, according toMaguire.

"We'll be looking to ensure our workers know what their job descriptions look like, know what work they'll continue to do, and know what work their not needing to be done," saidMaguire.

Maguiresays there is a team in place educating workers on how to proceed with the campaign.

The union presidentsays thework-to-rule campaign is aimed at making the public aware that union workers often perform duties outside of their regular job descriptions.

Maguireprovided an example of where effects of the work-to-rule campaign may be seen in thecity's aquatic department.He says currently instructorsare given 15 minutes at the end of their shift to fill out report cards.

"They're going to do what they can, but if they're not able to finish those remarks in those 15 minutes they're either not going to do it or ask for overtime to complete those tasks," says Maguire.

Local 79 is in talks with the city to reach a new contract. The last four-year deal expired on Dec. 31.

Members of Local 79 work in community housing, community centres, arenas, child-care centres, public health offices,long-term care facilities andmunicipal offices, among other things.