A union leader thrust into the spotlight during a recent contract battle with the City of Toronto said Thursday he was taking a break to mull his future.
Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, held a meeting with paramedics Wednesday night to discuss changes in a new contract with the city.
According to reports, the meeting grew heated to the point that Ferguson announced his resignation and left.
Ferguson declined comment in an email to CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson Thursday morning.
However, CUPE issued a statement later in the day noting that Ferguson had not made any formal decisions regarding a change in his status as president of Local 416.
Instead, the union said Ferguson is "taking two weeks personal time to be with his family after a long and difficult bargaining process."
He is set to meet with the union's executive committee when he returns to discuss his role with the organization.
"Rumours and hearsay arising from an internal member meeting should not be construed as a formal position of Local 416's leadership or its president," the union said.
The paramedics, who were pushing for essential service status under the new contract, were unhappy over the city's contract reached last month. Under that designation, they could not strike during contract disputes.
While paramedics did receive the status, they were not made a separate bargaining unit – meaning their fate still remains tied to the union in future contract negotiations.
The new contract was approved by union members last month, but a reported 90 per cent of paramedics voted against the deal.
Ferguson has said "very tough choices were made" during contract negotiations with the city, pointing to Mayor Rob Ford's administration as one of the most anti-union administrations in recent memory.
