The City of Toronto says it has tabled a final offer to CUPE Local 79 — the union that represents 27,000 inside workers — with wage increases that are nearly double the current rate of inflation.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, City Manager Paul Johnson said the offer would eliminate minimum wage for all workers, and offer an across-the-board 14.65 per cent wage increase over four years, with a minimum 3.95 per cent increase in year one.

Some positions would see even higher hikes.

Child care aides would get 16.7 per cent more over four years, with personal support workers at 16.8 and registered nurses with the highest pay hike of 22 per cent.

Despite calling it a “final offer” Johnson stressed that there’s always wiggle room after the union said the latest offer falls short of its members needs.

CUPE Local 79 President Nas Yadollahi said the union will be countering with its own proposal later on Wednesday.

“We really want to work towards not having a disruption,” Johnson stressed. “We do not want a strike.”

Earlier Wednesday, Local 79 set an official strike date of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 10, calling it a firm strike deadline, with “no further exceptions.”

CUPE Local 79 members include workers in public health, planning, City Hall operations, employment and social services, ambulance dispatch, child care, and 311, among others.

If workers go on strike, the City said all early learning and child care centres would close, and programming at all City recreation centres, including March Break camps, would be cancelled.

The union has said the City of Toronto refuses to negotiate a fair deal with its frontline workers.

The two sides have been bargaining since December 2024, and the City has said it “remains committed to negotiating a new collective agreement that reflects the important work of City employees while also providing value for money for Toronto residents and businesses.”

The City has offered workers an increase of nearly 15 per cent over four years and points out a similar increase was accepted by outside workers back in December.

CUPE Local 79 voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate in January, citing “a crisis in retention and recruitment after nearly two decades of austerity and underinvestment” and highlighted Toronto’s emergency and ambulance services, saying several employees have been forced to leave “in droves” due to burnout and being underpaid.

With files from Lucas Casaletto and The Canadian Press