The head of the TTC's largest union said workers are not ready to go on strike yet, but if talks are to progress, there's got to be a change in management at the bargaining table.
At a news conference Thursday morning, Bob Kinnear said workers would not take any job action for now but he would like to see TTC Chairman Adam Giambrone take the seat at the bargaining table instead of the transit commission's general manager Gary Webster.
"We are prepared to talk into next week but we do not believe we will get an agreement as long as Gary Webster is making the decisions," Kinnear said. "We will much more likely to reach a deal acceptable with both sides with Adam Giambrone sitting on the other side."
Later in the day, Giambrone told reporters he has no plans of coming to the bargaining table, saying he has full confidence in the TTC's negotiating team. He said management will continue talking in good faith as long as the union remains open-minded about a contract solution.
"It's not about the person at the table, it's about the negotiating position," Giambrone said.
Webster is suggesting major concessions amounting to "tens of millions of dollars" that the union simply won't accept, Kinnear said.
"They're saying benefit improvements have to be made with concessions and we told them that's not going to happen, not this time."
One of the concessions is "breathtaking in its audacity," said the union boss because it asks for new workers to make 25 per cent less than what other existing employees make.
"Let me be clear, this alone is a strike issue," he said.
"We will not sell out the next generation of workers," he continued. "I will not look them in the eye and tell them they'll have to pay less than the person working next to them for in order to buy labour peace. It's not going to happen."
In a news release issued Thursday, TTC management responded by saying they are still committed to talking with the union and are suggesting that some funds be "reallocated."
"Given the TTC's financial situation, it has suggested that funds be reallocated from certain premiums employees receive," the news release said. "Those funds then would be used to make further improvements to the final offer."
Three unions including the Amalgamated Transit Union have been in a legal strike position since April 1 but negotiations have continued past the deadline. The unions have said that they would give the public 48 hours notice before going on strike or reducing service through a work-to-rule policy.
On Tuesday, Giambrone said he thinks a strike can be averted, after reports surfaced that negotiations with the ATU had come to a standstill.
"We're working, we're committed to getting a deal that works for Toronto and for our employees."
A key point of contention in the negotiations has been the issue of salary pay for workers who have been injured on the job.
Under the current contract, workers who need to take time off work because they have been assaulted or injured on the job are penalized with a pay cut.
Kinnear said last month it is a sticking point the union isn't ready to compromise on.
"It's very unlikely there will be an offer that will be accepted that does not address this issue," he told reporters on March 25.
Union officials with the ATU have already walked away from the negotiation table once after they said the issue wasn't being addressed.
Thursday's news conference was the first public announcement made since talks resumed late March.
Kinnear used the opportunity to urge the provincial and federal government to step in with financial support to take the burden off TTC workers.
The ATU represents 8,500 drivers, ticket collectors and maintenance workers.
If they were to go on strike, it would effectively cripple public transit in Toronto, stranding millions of commuters.
With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman
