We Need Our
Members Here
In February 2024, the citizens of Toronto collectively supported our Toronto Police Service (TPS) and we won: securing a budget that allows for recruitment and retention strategies, alternative service delivery models, and responsible staffing and deployment decisions. But none of these things matter if the men and women who serve this city every day are not paid what they’re worth.
I’m getting
ready to go
to work...
Just not in Toronto.
I’m getting
ready to go
to work...
Just not in Toronto.
We Need Our
Members Here
In February 2024, the citizens of Toronto collectively supported our Toronto Police Service (TPS) and we won: securing a budget that allows for recruitment and retention strategies, alternative service delivery models, and responsible staffing and deployment decisions. But none of these things matter if the men and women who serve this city every day are not paid what they’re worth.
Our Members deserve an agreement that reflects their expertise and the complex nature of policing the largest city in Canada.
The Toronto Police Association (TPA) is disappointed that collective bargaining negotiations with the Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB) have broken down. The process has now moved to arbitration – a step that hasn’t happened for 16 years.
The TPSB’s final position made reaching a negotiated agreement impossible. We believe this is a direct result of the Board’s bargaining committee and Mayor Olivia Chow’s refusal to agree to the collective agreements that our Members deserve.
It has become clear that the TPSB is unwilling to move from its original mandate. Since then, several other comparator police services have settled their collective bargaining agreements.
Policing in Toronto is unique and 2024 has proven how precarious public safety is in communities across the city.
The city’s population has grown 13% in 10 years, making it the fourth largest city in North America.
A police officer in Toronto currently makes at least $5,000 less than surrounding services. In three years, that difference will increase to $25,000.
TPS Communications Operators receive more than 2M calls for service every year.
This year, more than 550 Members have been injured on duty, with 60% missing work because of their injuries.
Fatal shootings are up 61%.
How to Support
How to Support
Speak Up
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Stay connected with us through email.
Stay connected with us through email.
FAQ
We have bargained in good faith for eight months, participating in several negotiation sessions, including some with a mediator. But it has become clear that the TPSB was unwilling to move from their original mandate, developed back in October 2023 and before negotiated settlements were entered into by the other police services, such as the OPP, Peel, Barrie and London.
For the first time in 16 years the Association is being forced by the Police Service Board to seek collective agreements through binding interest arbitration.
Police are an essential service and are not legally allowed to strike so when negotiations breakdown, arbitration is the next step. This means that each side puts together a comprehensive package of information furthering their respective positions on salaries and benefits as well as any potential changes to the contract’s language. Once presented, a third party Arbitrator determines the outcome and imposes a one-year deal. The process is expected to start at the end of November.
The budget requested by the Toronto Police Service was for day-to-day operations and capital investments. The salaries and benefits portion of the budget is separate and decided during collective bargaining, or in this case binding arbitration.
Yes, and the Service has laid out a plan to recruit and hire more members. But it has been a challenge to recruit, hire and retain the number of members needed for a city the size and complexity of Toronto.
Since January 2024, we have lost members to retirement and resignations. While some of these members rightly attained their years of service, 50% left TPS for other careers in policing. This is 20% higher than it was four years ago.
No. Each police association and police board is responsible for negotiating its own compensation package.
A police officer in Toronto currently makes a base salary of $109,000. For that money, they are responsible for providing police services in the largest city in Canada, responding to more than two million calls every year. They are faced with rising crime rates and greater risks to their personal safety and wellbeing.
For $5,000 more they can go to the surrounding police services and arguably work less. In three years, they would make almost $20,000 more. This matters because in the next five years, 85% of the senior officer rank and more than 60% of Staff Sergeants and Detective Sergeants will be eligible to retire. If they can earn $20,000 more in their last years, they will.
We are already losing more members than ever before and we know other police services are actively recruiting from our police service. Given the pressures of policing in Toronto, cost of living, commute and traffic headaches, a compensation package is one of the few things we can offer new and existing members. Without our ability to hire new members and keep the ones we have, our resources will continue to plummet. This will lead to an increase in wait times, fewer opportunities for proactive policing, and other risks to officer safety and community wellbeing.
We’re using AI for this campaign to enhance the way we communicate our message in a more engaging and visual manner. By leveraging this technology, we can effectively convey our message while also ensuring the safety and privacy of our officers. Additionally, we chose not to feature real officers in this campaign to avoid any misinterpretation, especially in a context where the campaign touches on sensitive topics like officers leaving their jobs.
FAQ
We have bargained in good faith for eight months, participating in several negotiation sessions, including some with a mediator. But it has become clear that the TPSB was unwilling to move from their original mandate, developed back in October 2023 and before negotiated settlements were entered into by the other police services, such as the OPP, Peel, Barrie and London.
For the first time in 16 years the Association is being forced by the Police Service Board to seek collective agreements through binding interest arbitration.
Police are an essential service and are not legally allowed to strike so when negotiations breakdown, arbitration is the next step. This means that each side puts together a comprehensive package of information furthering their respective positions on salaries and benefits as well as any potential changes to the contract’s language. Once presented, a third party Arbitrator determines the outcome and imposes a one-year deal. The process is expected to start at the end of November.
The budget requested by the Toronto Police Service was for day-to-day operations and capital investments. The salaries and benefits portion of the budget is separate and decided during collective bargaining, or in this case binding arbitration.
Yes, and the Service has laid out a plan to recruit and hire more members. But it has been a challenge to recruit, hire and retain the number of members needed for a city the size and complexity of Toronto.
Since January 2024, we have lost members to retirement and resignations. While some of these members rightly attained their years of service, 50% left TPS for other careers in policing. This is 20% higher than it was four years ago.
No. Each police association and police board is responsible for negotiating its own compensation package.
A police officer in Toronto currently makes a base salary of $109,000. For that money, they are responsible for providing police services in the largest city in Canada, responding to more than two million calls every year. They are faced with rising crime rates and greater risks to their personal safety and wellbeing.
For $5,000 more they can go to the surrounding police services and arguably work less. In three years, they would make almost $20,000 more. This matters because in the next five years, 85% of the senior officer rank and more than 60% of Staff Sergeants and Detective Sergeants will be eligible to retire. If they can earn $20,000 more in their last years, they will.
We are already losing more members than ever before and we know other police services are actively recruiting from our police service. Given the pressures of policing in Toronto, cost of living, commute and traffic headaches, a compensation package is one of the few things we can offer new and existing members. Without our ability to hire new members and keep the ones we have, our resources will continue to plummet. This will lead to an increase in wait times, fewer opportunities for proactive policing, and other risks to officer safety and community wellbeing.
We’re using AI for this campaign to enhance the way we communicate our message in a more engaging and visual manner. By leveraging this technology, we can effectively convey our message while also ensuring the safety and privacy of our officers. Additionally, we chose not to feature real officers in this campaign to avoid any misinterpretation, especially in a context where the campaign touches on sensitive topics like officers leaving their jobs.