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Cops won’t cut picket line waits – Metro US

Cops won’t cut picket line waits

Things moved more smoothly on the picket lines yesterday, including those at two transfer stations, but the city and its striking unions have yet to agree on how long pedestrians or motorists should wait to pass through.

“We do see quite a bit of variation in terms of the wait times,” Geoff Rathbone, general manager of solid waste, said at yesterday’s afternoon briefing. “However, just over the last several hours, for example, we’ve made significant progress at the Dufferin transfer station and good progress at the Scarborough transfer station, so we’re quite pleased with that.”

Despite complaints from residents and businesses about long waits — especially at transfer stations or to enter city hall’s underground parking garage — the city has not sought a court injunction to restrict strikers from hindering passage. At city hall, people are being asked to wait between two to five minutes to enter, and sometimes exit, the building.

Toronto Police won’t be helping motorists or pedestrians cross picket lines.

“They’re there to keep the peace,” Const. Tony Vella said of officers earlier this week. “They have to stay neutral. Their job is to ensure public safety.”

Vella said officers would act if somebody breaks the law: “If there are two people yelling at each other, then they will intervene to make sure it doesn’t escalate.”