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MEDIA ADVISORY: Thunder Bay library workers to mark two-week anniversary of strike at solidarity rally on Thursday evening

THUNDER BAY, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Striking workers at the Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL) will mark the two-week anniversary of their strike during an indoor rally at the Da Vinci Centre in Thunder Bay on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

Over 70 TBPL workers, who are represented by CUPE 3120 and CUPE 87-18, have been on strike since October 15, when management walked away from the table.

“We have been overwhelmed by the community’s support,” said Margaret Demillo, President of CUPE 3120, which represents over 60 TBPL workers. “We will be celebrating that solidarity at this evening’s rally, and thanking our supporters.”

Over 800 community members have sent letters in support of the striking workers to all members of the Library Board and City Council, generating more than 14,000 email messages. The union is also aware that supporters have logged hundreds of phone calls to the Mayor and Council, urging them to call on the Library Board to get back to the bargaining table.

“It’s really been heartening when members of the public, especially library users, stop by to visit us on the picket lines,” said Deryk Fournier, President of CUPE 87-18, which represents seven TBPL librarians. “We want to share those positive stories with our members at tonight’s rally.”

WHAT: Solidarity Rally & Social
WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Da Vinci Centre, 340 Waterloo Street South, Thunder Bay (map)

Members of the unions’ Executive Committees, along with trade union and community allies, will deliver speeches at this evening’s rally.

  • 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.
  • Strike photos and video are available here: https://bit.ly/tblwfb

Contacts

For more information, please contact:

James Clark
CUPE Communications Representative
289-678-4894 (no SMS) | jclark@cupe.ca

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

For more information, please contact:

James Clark
CUPE Communications Representative
289-678-4894 (no SMS) | jclark@cupe.ca

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