By Hamutal Dotan

   In a press conference at City Hall a few moments ago, Rob Ford announced that he has formally notified Local 416 of his “intention to recommend a competitive bid process” for three service areas: residential garbage collection from Yonge Street west to the Etobicoke border, litter and recycling collection in City parks, and litter vacuum operations. The union contends that this will end up costing the City money: since the current union contract has job protection clauses, any worker taken off garbage collection duty would need to be given another job at the City. The mayor’s team argues that as union workers retire, they will not need to be replaced, thereby generating savings.
Most important for now: this isn’t a done deal. This is only a notice of an intention to put the recommendation forward—it still needs to be voted on and approved at a council meeting.