The head of one of Toronto's largest labour unions will step down from his job by the end of the year, CUPE Local 416 confirmed on Thursday amid speculation whether President Mark Ferguson would seek re-election.
Ferguson, who was thrust into the spotlight during a tumultuous contract battle with the City of Toronto, will step down when the union is scheduled to hold its next election in November.
Ferguson became a household name last month as he led his union through a series of frustrating contract negotiations with Mayor Rob Ford's administration – which he said had one of the most "anti-union" mindsets in recent memory.
"The last few months have been some of the toughest this Union has ever faced. I am proud to have been able to lead my members during this time and see us through to a negotiated settlement that pushed back against the most damaging of the City's proposals," Ferguson said in a statement released Thursday.
"We are still faced with an administration that is determined to eliminate publicly delivered services and the workers who provide them. Our main focus now is to defend against this attack, and to do so in close collaboration with communities and City Councillors who care as much as we do about keeping our public services intact."
Ferguson's fate has been a point of speculation since he reportedly stormed out of an information session in March, after CUPE Local 416 had voted to accept a contract offer.
The union said at the time that Ferguson was taking some personal time to spend with his family and that he had not made a decision about his role with the union.
Ferguson said on Thursday he would remain a president until the fall, but would not seek re-election. He added that he would work with union executives to help the leadership transition go smoothly.
CUPE Local 416 represents some 6,000 outside workers, including garbage collectors, snow plow operators and paramedics.
