The Toronto Zoo won't open Thursday and will stay closed until further notice as some 400 employees walk off the job in a contract dispute.
A strike deadline for members of CUPE Local 1600 passed at midnight without a deal. The union represents zookeepers, ride operators as well as maintenance, administration, concession and public relations staff.
Local president Christine McKenzie says the zoo's "refusal to move on job security" left them with no alternative but to take job action.
"No one on this bargaining committee wanted a strike, but you cannot have a world-leading research, conservation and education facility by consigning hundreds of workers to precarious, insecure jobs that don't support communities," McKenzie said in a statement.
The zoo insists it has been "more than fair and reasonable" in its contract offers, claiming the union has been inflexible. The zoo says its employees are well-paid and covered by health and dental benefits, vacation and sick time and a paid pension plan.
The zoo says it has a "robust contingency plan" involving highly qualified staffers to care for its animals during the work stoppage.
But the union warns thousands of animals, including some about to give birth, won't be getting the level of care they need.