Over the last few weeks there has been much discussion throughout the City regarding collective bargaining. The Police, the TTC and the City’s outside workers are all scheduled to be in collective bargaining at some point this year. You can read about it here.
The Toronto Police Services Board (the Board) has already commenced collective bargaining with the Toronto Police Association (the Association) which represents approximately 2100 civilian and 5600 uniform members of the Toronto Police Service. The Association’s current agreements expired on December 31, 2010.
Historically, the police collective bargaining has been a long drawn-out process, occurring over the course of a year or more. As with collective bargaining generally, the parties meet and work toward achieving a negotiated agreement. Built into the process are provisions for mediation and arbitration, to be used if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on their own.
With regard to the current round of bargaining, the bargaining teams for the Board and the Association exchanged proposals in late January, with bargaining scheduled to take place through the late winter and Spring 2011.
It is our hope that with this expedited schedule, we will be able to reach a negotiated agreement which meets the needs of residents and police service members.
The Board’s approach to the bargaining will continue to be based on two key considerations. First, members of the Toronto Police Service should be well paid. Second, we must be responsible to our community and be mindful of today's fiscal reality.
