Thunder Bay library workers and supporters urge management to protect library services by negotiating a fair deal

THUNDER BAY, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL) workers and their supporters held a media conference today in front of the Library’s Waverley branch, urging the Library Board to negotiate a fair deal and help avert a strike.

The workers have been without a contract for over a year now and face a strike deadline of 12:01 am on Friday, October 16.

“Our members love their jobs and the service they provide to the community,” said Deryk Fournier, President of CUPE 87, the union that represents librarians at the TBPL.

“We’re working hard to get a fair deal, but if management keeps pushing concessions, we’ll have no choice but to strike,” added Margaret Demillo, President of CUPE 3120, which represents over 60 library workers in the TBPL.

Among the Employer’s proposed concessions are cuts to sick leave, parental leave, and vacation and the removal or reduction of health benefits.

If a deal can’t be reached by October 16, pickets will go up at all four library branches in the city – which means a strike could be underway during municipal elections on October 26.

“It’s really unfortunate to see the Library Board go after its own workers like this,” said Carlos Santander-Maturana, President of the Thunder Bay & District Labour Council. “Library workers are the heart of our libraries: an attack on them is an attack on the entire library system.”

Speakers also sounded the alarm about the impending year-long closure for renovations of the Library’s Waverley branch, with no confirmed plans by management to continue providing service or running programs in an alternate location.

“I’m looking forward to the expansion and renovation of Waverley Library,” said Lise Vaugeois, Ontario NDP MPP for Thunder Bay – Superior North. “But it’s not acceptable that this comes at the cost of librarians and library workers. A library is nothing without the people there to support the people it serves.”

CUPE Ontario President Yolanda McClean pledged the solidarity of thousands of CUPE members across the region.

“We love library workers, we love our libraries, and we vote,” said McClean. “When we go to the polls later this month, we’ll remember who spoke up to defend good jobs in Thunder Bay, and who said nothing.”

The Employer has only tentatively agreed to two more bargaining dates next week, but the union will be pressing for more opportunities to negotiate a deal before the strike deadline.

CUPE 3120 represents the Library Assistants, Library Technicians, Custodian, Maintenance Persons, Cleaners, Network and Software Support Analysts, Community Facilitators, and Finance Staff from the Thunder Bay Public Library.

CUPE 87-18 represents seven full-time librarians from the Thunder Bay Public Library.

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