The union representing the City of Toronto's inside workers says the offer its members are voting on this week isn't one that was reached through collective bargaining.

At a Monday afternoon press conference, CUPE Local 79 president Tim Maguire offered little new information on how his members might vote Wednesday on the city's "final offer."

But he stressed that the offer was unilaterally made by the city, not a deal the two parties had agreed on, and that the workers would take that into consideration.

Maguire said the city made it clear this offer "would be accepted or these (conditions) would be imposed." "We're still committed to negotiating settlements. The city pulled away from the bargaining table."

The union announced very early Monday morning that it would present the city's final offer to its members, after nearly 48 hours of marathon talks. The announcement means that a strike and lockout have been temporarily averted.

At about 12:05 a.m. Monday, a tense-looking Maguire said the union would present the deal to its members "without recommendation."

Negotiations had continued into Sunday night at Toronto's Sheraton Hotel, where talks stretched on for about 13 hours a day before.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday hailed the offer as both an "agreement" and a "deal," saying it covered a four-year term.

"These agreements are fair and reasonable for the employees and for the taxpayers of Toronto," Holyday told reporters.

"(The offer) is very similar to the Local 416 agreement ratified last month and we are confident that Local 79 members will ratify the deal," Holyday later said in a statement.

Last month, the 6,000 outside workers of Local 416 voted in favour of a new deal. Highlights of that deal include six per cent in wage improvements and the retention of employment security provisions for permanent employees with 15 years or more of service.

City negotiators said early Monday that those provisions are contained in their final offer to CUPE Local 79, which represents 23,000 workers, including child-care providers, public health nurses, recreation-centre workers and janitors.

The union called Holyday's claim that this is similar to the deal offered Local 416 "untrue."

The marathon weekend of bargaining began Friday, when city and CUPE Local 79 negotiators had agreed to keep talking past a midnight deadline in an effort to reach a labour deal.

Citing a "new development," city representatives called off a news conference scheduled for 9:45 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, CUPE Local 79 members reportedly received an email from union leadership instructing them on where to go in case a strike or lockout is called.

The email obtained by CP24 advised workers on how to register for a picket location, and provided a list of pertinent office locations and phone numbers. However, Maguire said Monday afternoon that his members would stay on the job as long as the city resists imposing non-negotiated terms and conditions on the workers.

Holyday had said Saturday that discussions with CUPE Local 79 would continue as long as there was progress.

The major sticking points between the union and the city are benefits and job security. Many of the indoor workers represented by the union are part time and want the greater job security that full-time workers enjoy.

If the members reject the city's offer, the two sides could end up back at the bargaining table. The union could also strike, as it has a strong strike mandate from its members, or the city could lock out the workers -- or unilaterally impose a new contract.

Meanwhile, Toronto's library workers are still off the job, marching on the picket line in front of City Hall early Monday morning. CUPE Local 49-48 walked off the job just over a week ago after talks with the city fell apart. On Sunday, workers held a rally outside the Toronto Reference Library that included a "read in" -- a sit-in, but with books.