Rob Ford mounts bid to privatize garbage collection in Toronto

Published Monday, Feb. 07, 2011 10:45AM ESTLast updated Monday, Feb. 07, 2011 12:16PM EST451 comments

Mayor Rob Ford has formally launched his bid to privatize garbage collection by serving the union with 90 days notice that he wants to contract out trash pickup west of Yonge Street.

The move could affect approximately 300 jobs, according to a news release.

CUPE Local 416, which represents outside workers, including garbage workers, received notice Monday that the city intends to recommend a competitive bid process for daytime, residential curbside trash pickup from Yonge Street to the Etobicoke border; for more privatized city-wide litter-vacuum operations; and for litter and recycling collection in city parks.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday and Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, the chair of the public works and infrastructure committee, are scheduled to hold a news conference at 12:30 p.m.

Mr. Ford campaigned on contracting out trash pickup, and he’s made no secret of his plans since taking office.

In the run-up to the election, Mr. Ford estimated that private garbage pickup could save up to $20-million a year, assuming services across the city were contracted out.

The collective agreement requires the city to notify the union at least three months before any city committees or the full council can vote on contracting out any service delivered by public employees.

“I think Ford’s position is completely ideological in nature,” said CUPE Local 416 President Mark Ferguson, who represents the city’s outside workers, including garbage collectors. “We know he’s just trying to whip up public anger at our members.”

It’s not clear how much the city could save if it contracted out in a piecemeal fashion, tackling one geographic section at a time.

CUPE Local 416’s current contract, which expires at the end of this year, guarantees all full-time, permanent employees a job elsewhere in the municipal public service if their positions are contracted out.

Mr. Ferguson said Monday the union has no intention of bending on the job guarantee.

“Employee security is our number one priority,” he said. “It always has been.”

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