The union, which covers about 700 TTC workers, will set the deadline for the strike

About 700 TTC workers could walk off the job in less than two weeks after months of fruitless negotiations with TTC management, their union said Thursday.

CUPE Local 2, which represents 661 electrical and trades workers at the TTC, confirmed that it has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. on April 22.

The workers have been without a contract since March 2022. In February, they voted 99.3 percent in favor of the strike mandate.

In a statement, the union said discussions had been “frustrating” and that no agreement had been reached, despite repeated talks since then.

The main issue in the negotiations was wages, with the union saying they wanted increases in line with “inflationary increases” to address the rising cost of living.

“None of us want to go on strike, but we have no choice,” CUPE Local 2 President Sumit Guleria said in a statement. “Our services are critical to public safety and directly impact the well-being of our customers. Fair recognition and consideration of the invaluable contributions of our members is essential.”

The TTC said it has contingency plans in place in the event of a strike to allow it to maintain as much service as possible, but some services may be affected. Union workers include tram and subway signal repairers.

In a statement Thursday, TTC CEO Rick Leary said negotiations are proceeding “in good faith.”

“Representatives from Local 2 and the TTC remain at the negotiating table with the intention of reaching a negotiated settlement without the need for work action,” Leary said.

“Last November, the TTC Board approved a mandate to negotiate. We are committed to achieving a fair deal for Local 2 employees while being affordable for Toronto taxpayers.”

He added that any changes are “obligated” to be evaluated by customers and employees.

TTC Chairman Jamaal Myers said he hopes the two sides can come to an agreement against our strike and is monitoring developments closely.

“Despite today's announcement of a strike date, I remain at the negotiating table with the leaders of CUPE Local 2 and the TTC management team,” Myers said. “Both sides are actively trying to negotiate a fair deal. I am confident that an agreement can be negotiated without the need for work. Both union leadership and TTC management have announced that they are closely monitoring the negotiations.”

If a strike were to go ahead, it would be the first time unionized TTC workers have gone on the job in nearly 13 years, following a court ruling last year that denied Ontario's TTC an essential service designation.