Councillor optimistic outside workers union and city will come to a deal

TORONTO, Ont. - Despite word that negotiations between Toronto Civic Employees Union, CUPE Local 416 and the city getting worse, one city councillor is optimistic that the two sides will come to a deal.

Adam Vaughan denied to Citytv that the city is holding a gun to the union's head.

"The city hasn't walked away from the table and the city hasn't put contingency plans out. So you've got one side of the table saying we're not going to strike, which is good news, and you've got the other side of the table saying there's no need for contingency plans, which means there's no eminent threat of a lock out. Normally about 24 hours, or a couple days in advance, contingency plans have circulated to the councillors. That hasn't happened yet. Why? Because the city is not contemplating needing them and doesn't want to scare people and raise the temperature in the room too much and the union doesn't wait to raise the temperature in the room with a strike vote."

Vaughan said that while it is not imminent, he believes a deal will get done.

"The deadline will come and go. I can guarantee you the deadline will come and go and the talks will continue and this will be done in an orderly way for both sides."

He said, too look at the positive, the two sides are closer together than they were a week ago.