Toronto is facing another threat of a work stoppage after Ontario's Ministry of Labour approved issued a "no board report" on Wednesday, setting a deadline for negotiations between the city and a union representing inside workers.

The report, requested by the City of Toronto, places a 17-day deadline on ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with CUPE Local 79, which represents some 23,000 inside workers.

The no board report was issued on Wednesday and puts the union in a legal position to strike, and the city in a position to lock workers out as early as March 24.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said the city has contingency plans prepared in the event that a work stoppage occurs.

CUPE Local 79 represents city nurses, janitors, child care workers ambulance dispatchers, among others, and has been working without a contract since Dec. 31. 2011.

Local 79 President Tim Maguire says the union has been looking to hold meaningful discussion with the city for the past several weeks, to no avail. More talks are scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

"We are not looking for a conflict. We are looking for a negotiated settlement," Maguire told a press conference on Thursday.

"We have been waiting to have those discussions and those haven't happened yet. Hopefully they can happen when the city approaches us with their proposals today."

Sticking points in the negotiations include scheduling, pay and the rights of part-time workers.

Maguire said that the city is asking for cutbacks from employees working in long-term care homes. He said city negotiators are looking to cut five hours from the workweek, which would result in a seven per cent income reduction.

A no board report was previously issued against a union representing public library workers and has placed either side in a position to take labour action on March 18.

CUPE Local 416, which represents some 6,000 outside workers, agreed to a new contract with the city after a no board report was issued earlier this year.

Local 416 avoided a work stoppage, but President Mark Ferguson said the agreement came with "significant compromise from all the members."