The City of Toronto has received a "no-board" report from the province, meaning the union representing the city's outdoor workers could be in a strike position on Feb. 19.

The report was issued by the Ministry of Labour on Thursday, in response to a request from the city filed a week ago.

On Friday, the city requested a no-board report after failing to reach an agreement in talks with the outdoor workers' union.

The province issues no-board reports when negotiating parties' differences are too great for conciliation. The notice informs the union and employer that the conciliation officer does not consider it advisable to appoint a conciliation board, hence "no board."

Following a no-board report, the ministry assigns a third-party mediator to work with the employer and the union to reach a collective agreement. The union will be in a legal strike position, and the employer will be in a legal lockout position, approximately 17 days from the date of issuance.

In this case, outdoor workers including garbage collectors, park staff and snowplow operators will be legally permitted to strike as of midnight on Feb. 19.

In a statement, the City of Toronto said that officials are still actively bargaining with Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 416.

The union's 4,200 members have been without a contract since Dec. 31.

"In the event of a labour disruption with Local 416...the City of Toronto will implement its contingency plans to address the operation of key City services that will be affected," the city said in a statement on Thursday.

"The TTC, Police and Fire Services and the City's Long-Term Care Homes and Services, Toronto Public Library and Toronto Community Housing properties would not be affected," the statement said.

Agreements will also be in place to maintain Toronto Paramedic Services in the event of a strike.

The union representing Toronto's inside workers filed a request for a no-board report to the province on Friday. Members of CUPE Local 79 have also been without a contract since the end of last year.

Spokesperson Cim Nunn confirmed to CP24 the union representing indoor workers received their no-board report on Wednesday, and that any job action could begin as early as Feb. 20.