TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging Premier McGuinty and Mayor Miller to act swiftly should a garbage strike occur next week in Toronto. CTF Federal Director, Kevin Gaudet, said “The city’s plans for a strike should reassure taxpayers not union bosses. The only plans taxpayers need are for getting striking workers back on the job and for taxpayers to have all the services they pay for.”

Should a strike occur, the CTF is calling on Premier McGuinty to commit to recalling the Ontario legislature to order CUPE Local 416 immediately back to work, as was done last summer during the TTC strike, and for Mayor Miller to contract out garbage collection services.

“Giving unions both a monopoly and an unfettered right to strike holds the city and taxpayers hostage. This needs to change,” said Gaudet. “This system provides incentives for union bosses to push for what is beyond reasonable in the private sector. It leaves taxpayers on the hook for their gouging. The only way to ensure that workers are fairly compensated at a level comparable with the private sector is to contract out the service.”

The City of Winnipeg, for example, saved over $3 million annually by tendering out just over half of the City's garbage pickup. When the City of Winnipeg contracted out collection in the remaining neighbourhoods in 2006, it achieved an additional $2.7 million in savings - in a city with less than 700,000 people.

During economic good times, in June 2002, CUPE 416 went on strike crippling the city for 16 days. Now in bad times they are at it again.

Added Gaudet, “At a time when regular taxpaying workers are losing their jobs, it is ridiculous for CUPE to use their monopoly to demand more, while those in the private sector are getting less and less.”