Nearly 900 frontline workers who support seniors and tenants in Toronto’s public housing could walk off the job by the end of November after voting overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate over what they describe as rising workplace violence and unsafe conditions.
Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79 (CUPE79), representing staff from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC), said on Friday that years of chronic understaffing have left employees vulnerable to attacks from tenants, often forcing them to work alone in high-risk situations.
CUPE79 president Nas Yadollahi announced that 98 per cent of TCHC members and 94 per cent of TSHC members supported the strike mandate, reflecting widespread frustration across the workforce. The union has filed for a no-board report from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, which, if granted, would trigger a 17-day countdown before a strike or lockout could legally begin.
“We will not back down until there’s a fair deal on the table,” Yadollahi said during a press conference. “We will not accept unsafe workplaces, and we will not stop until every worker has the respect, protection, and fair contract they deserve.”
The existing collective agreement expired in December 2024, and negotiations have been ongoing since September. Yadollahi said workers are demanding not only stronger safety protocols but also higher wages to offset the rising cost of living.
Frontline staff say the growing threat of violence has become impossible to ignore. Jennifer Mitchell, a CUPE79 member who works with tenants facing eviction, described a horrifying incident in which one of her colleagues was “viciously attacked” by a tenant.
“She was struck across the face with a metal rod,” Mitchell said. “After fighting off her attacker, he tried to run her over with his car. She almost died at work — and that is unacceptable. No one should fear for their life just for doing their job.”
Mitchell said such incidents have become more common as open positions remain unfilled for months or even years, leaving fewer staff to handle high-stress and sometimes volatile situations. “We often have to go into units alone,” she said. “It’s unsafe, and it’s been ignored for too long.”
If workers strike, it could disrupt essential services for more than 100,000 tenants and 15,000 seniors across Toronto, including rent processing and on-site support.
Both housing corporations have expressed a desire to avoid a labour disruption. A spokesperson for TCHC said it “deeply values” its workers and is committed to negotiating “for as long as it takes” to reach a fair agreement, emphasizing that the “health, safety and well-being” of staff remains a top priority.
TSHC echoed that position, saying it remains “confident” a deal can be reached.
Still, Yadollahi warned that patience is running thin among frontline workers who have endured violence, burnout, and financial stress for years. “This step is serious and not one that we take lightly,” she said. “But we’ve been pushed to the limit — and enough is enough.”