Negotiations between the City of Toronto and a union representing 6,000 outside workers continued to show progress as the union declined to publicly discuss the matter during a "sensitive stage" in contract talks on Thursday.
"Negotiations on a collective agreement between our union and the City have reached a sensitive stage, and we are making significant progress toward successfully concluding an agreement," CUPE Local 416 President Mark Ferguson said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
"We prefer for the remainder of the day to refrain from media comment that may compromise that progress."
Ontario's Ministry of Labour has given negotiators until Feb. 5 before the city can legally lock out unionized workers or the union can legally go on strike.
Both sides have said they want to avoid a work stoppage and Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said this week that they would not lock workers out over the weekend, giving both sides until at least Monday.
Holyday said on Thursday that negotiations have shown some progress recently, but the city was still concerned a deal would not be reached in time.
"We are not quite as optimistic as Mr. Ferguson," Holyday told reporters. "However, they still are at the table, there are a lot of unsettled items at this time. Through hard work and negotiations – there are 48 hours before any deadlines are reached – we think we can come up with a contract at that time.
"In contract negotiations a lot happens in the last couple of days and that is the point we are at right now."
When asked what advice he would give to the union, Holyday said: "Stay at the table, roll up your sleeves, work hard 24 hours a day if you have to."
