More than 250 unionized hospitality workers at the CN Tower have been locked out amid a labour dispute and while the tourist attraction will remain open, some services are impacted.
Officials who operate the CN Tower said the observation levels, EdgeWalk, and the Shop will remain open while the 360 Restaurant, VUE Bistros and Le Café would be temporarily closed.
“Guests are welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages for personal consumption during their visit to our observation levels,” an update on the CN Tower’s website states.
For those who have a reservation at the 360 restaurant, officials told CityNews they won’t be compensating guests at this time due to “capacity restraints,” but hope to reopen soon.
“In the event of labour action by the Union, such as a strike or work-to-rule, we would be unable to meet our restaurants’ service and quality standards, so to protect the guest experience, our restaurants will be closed until an agreement can be reached,” a statement reads.
Officials also said visitors to the attraction may encounter minor delays due to “crowding at various access points surrounding the CN Tower.”
Unifor Local 4271 represents about full-time and part-time workers at the CN Tower, including hosts, wait staff, bartenders and a kitchen crew of chefs, cooks and butchers.
Unifor’s national president, Lana Payne, said the decision by Canada Lands Company, which operates the attraction in the heart of downtown Toronto, to lock out workers “at the start of peak tourism season, rather than negotiating a fair agreement, speaks volumes.”
“It’s incredibly disappointing that visitors and local residents alike will be denied the full CN Tower experience, including its dining services, due to the company’s refusal to respect its workers,” Payne stated in a release.
In a statement to CityNews, CN Tower officials said they and are ready to negotiate.
“The CN Tower and Unifor Local 4271 have been engaged in good faith efforts to negotiate a renewed collective agreement with unionized employees in the Food & Beverage department since April. The Company made its best offer on June 26, 2025, and unfortunately, the Union chose not to respond,” it reads.
“We are hopeful that this labour disruption can be resolved through respectful and reasonable negotiation.”
Over the weekend, the union said labour talks with Canada Lands Company had reached a standstill, raising the risk of a lockout or strike.
Unifor said workers were locked out as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
“This lockout is not only an attack on workers-it’s a blow to Toronto’s tourism economy,” said Shan Ramanathan, president of Unifor Local 4271, adding that the union is ready to return to the bargaining table.
The union said it has been at the bargaining table, working to secure a “fair deal that addresses long-standing concerns,” such as pension improvements and wage increases, among other issues.
“Workers have gone more than 15 years without improvements to their pension, while wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. In addition, there has been no meaningful progress on benefits, and persistent health and safety issues remain unaddressed in the workplace,” the union said.
With files from The Canadian Press