Tentative deal reached in Toronto labour dispute

A tentative deal has been reached between the City of Toronto and the union representing its outside workers after an all-night bargaining session that sought to avoid a labour disruption.

A bleary-eyed Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, made the announcement just after 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday morning at the Sheraton Centre, where talks took place.

Ferguson said both sides would be returning to the table Monday to finalize details.

“We are extremely excited we were able to resolve this through direct negotiations,” Ferguson told reporters.

“We did have to give in a number of different areas just as we said we would.”

The city confirmed the tentative settlement in a news release.

Details will be released after union members ratify the new contract and Toronto city council approves it.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford called it a “fantastic day for the taxpayers” but emphasized that the deal is still tentative.