The clock is ticking down to a possible strike or lockout by the City of Toronto’s inside workers at 12:01 a.m. Saturday…!

If the 23,000 workers are locked out, dozens of pools, arenas, daycare centres, and parks and recreation buildings will be closed.

Last minute talks are continuing between the two sides, in a last-ditch effort to prevent a possible labour disruption.

CUPE Local 79 Spokesman Cim Nunn told 680News there is a lot of pressure on both sides to reach a deal.

“The clock is ticking, we have a deadline coming up at 12:00, my hope is that we see some movement from the city side, we see a more willing partner at the table, we see how important it is to reach a negotiated agreement,” Nunn said.

The union has said that members will stay on the job beyond the deadline as long as talks continue to progress.

The City of Toronto has a contingency plan in place should the workers strike or be locked out.

But it may not come to that.

The Toronto Star reported CUPE Local 79, which represents the city’s inside workers, responded Thursday night with a relaxed position on the job security or jobs-for-life clause that the city really wants to get rid of or greatly reduce.

According to the Star, the union is prepared to accept an equation that protects only those with 10 years of service and more.

The offer appeared to take deputy mayor Doug Holyday by surprise. He told CityNews he has been waiting to hear from the union after a week of silence.

“I don’t know why they had to go to the media to announce that they’re doing that,” Holyday said.