TORONTO ZOO AND CUPE LOCAL 1600 REACH AGREEMENT TO REDUCE WAGES AND HOURS TO AVOID FURTHER EMPLOYEE LAY-OFFS

TORONTO, ON, Wednesday, April 29, 2020: The Toronto Zoo and CUPE Local 1600, which represents the Zoo’s unionized employees, are pleased to announce they have reached an agreement on a temporary 12.5% reduction in wages and hours for all permanent Toronto Zoo staff avoiding further employee lay-offs. 

“This was a very collaborative approach and I commend the Union and our entire Toronto Zoo team for working together to find cost-savings to protect our valued employees at the Zoo,” said Dolf DeJong, Toronto Zoo’s Chief Executive Officer. “These direct savings to our operational budget are critical and enable our remaining staff members to continue with their essential services. This agreement ensures the animals in our care will continue to receive the highest level of husbandry by our dedicated, professional and committed staff, while also providing our team protection in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.”

“These are difficult times. The Management of the Toronto Zoo and CUPE Local 1600 have worked hard to come up with a COVID-19 continuation plan that protects employment and the valuable Toronto asset that is the Toronto Zoo,” said Cassia Devison, CUPE Local 1600 President. “In our future we will need places where we can go to enjoy nature in settings conducive to public safety and education about our environment and the beings with whom we share the planet. The Zoo is such a place, and the members of CUPE Local 1600 are proud to steward this wonderful resource for Torontonians to enjoy in the future,” she added.

The agreement takes effect May 3, 2020 and is in place until June 6, 2020 and will be re-evaluated at that time as the COVID-19 pandemic, and its implications, continue to evolve. 

As a not-for-profit charitable organization, the Toronto Zoo relies heavily on revenues from our guests to support our operations throughout the year. With the Zoo’s closure starting on March 13^th, just before the March Break, the impact on our revenues has been significant and with no re-opening date in the foreseeable future, we were compelled to make additional changes to continue to manage our expenses in a responsible way, while ensuring we provide the best care for our animals. 

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Media Contact Information:

Katie Gray
Toronto Zoo’s Manager of Strategic Communications
(416) 938-5283
[email protected]

Amanda Chambers
Supervisor of Strategic Communications
[email protected]