The unions representing Toronto's striking civic workers rejected the city's latest offer Friday afternoon and blasted Mayor David Miller for what they called an attempt to negotiate in public.

At a news conference in the city's east end, Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, said the monetary offer in a proposed four-year contract just isn't enough.

"The city has decided to show an absolute disrespect for its direct employees throughout the bargaining process and again today by trying to circumvent their elected bargaining committees by negotiating in public," Ferguson said.

Ann Dembinski, president of CUPE Local 79, went further, saying the mayor's decision to make the latest offer public "has set labour relations in the city of Toronto back 30 years."

The unions are expected to make a counter-proposal later in the evening, the CBC's Steven D'Souza reported.

Earlier in the day, Miller said the offer is "fair and affordable" and contains everything needed to "resolve all outstanding issues."

At a midmorning news conference, Miller took the unusual step of releasing the comprehensive offers it has made to its two striking locals. Almost three weeks long, the strike has hobbled most city services, including garbage removal.

"It's time to say yes to a deal," the mayor said. "We want an end to the strike and we're serious.

"In that spirit, I'm here to announce that [Thursday] morning our negotiators tabled an offer that I believe should allow us to end this strike today."

Miller said the city was releasing the negotiating details to allow Torontonians and members of locals 416 and 79 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees to be "informed on key bargaining issues."

The most obvious sign of the strike by Toronto's municipal employees has been the growing piles of garbage in some city parks. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

"The city cannot afford all of the increases to wages, shift premiums, vacation time and benefits the unions have requested," said a statement released by the city at the same time as the mayor's speech.

"Both unions have requested wage increases of more than three per cent in each year of a new collective agreement."

The offer made to the unions contains wage increases of one per cent in each of the first two years of a four-year contract. The third and fourth years would see wages rise by two and three per cent, respectively.

Mayor: 'We want an end to the strike'

On non-monetary issues, the city says it has resolved all outstanding problems with Local 79, which represents most of the striking members, including daycare workers, clerks and other inside workers.

Included in the latest offer is a promise of a new short-term benefit program to replace the existing one that allows some union members to bank any unused sick leave.

The city's offer regarding banked sick leave, which now provides up to six months' pay when employees retire, would result in a partial payout to current employees. A new short-term disability plan, without the sick-leave bank, would then cover those employees.

As for Local 416, the city says its offer "includes fair resolution of the city's four remaining non-monetary proposals."

About 24,000 unionized workers in Toronto have been on strike since June 22.

The outside workers represent garbage collectors, water and sewer workers, as well as paramedics and people who take care of the city's parks.