The Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch. (GVPL).
Union employees working for libraries across Greater Victoria voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action on a vote held Sunday.
“After bargaining collaboratively for more than a year to make significant progress on key issues, the employer presented workers with a list of concession demands,” said CUPE 410 president Helen Hughes, the union which represents Victoria library workers.
“The employer refuses to move on its concession demands and refuses to answer key questions about sweeping changes proposed to scheduling and use of auxiliary workers.”
According to the union, they’re seeking to change the rules and wages related to weekend scheduling, and use of student employees in place of existing, long-serving staff.
“The employer proposes to save tens of thousands of dollars annually by replacing existing employees with more precarious staff who are paid less and have fewer workplace rights,” said Hughes.
“While we remain committed to a negotiated resolution, we need the employers’ cooperation in producing a fair settlement at the bargaining table.”
Talks between the union and the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) representatives broke off Saturday after eight days of negotiating. Since then, the employers have applied BC Labour Relations Board to have a mediator appointed before any strike. Employees have more than 85 per cent in favour of a strike action during a vote on Sunday.
“The last thing we want is to disrupt library users’ access to the services they count on,” said Hughes.
“Know that we will be doing all we can to seek a negotiated resolution.”
Both sides say they’re eager to work towards settling the outstanding issues through the negotiation and mediation process.
“In the best interests of the GVPL, their employees, and the many patrons served every day, we will continue to work towards settling outstanding issues through the negotiation and mediation process, The Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association, said in a statement.
Kori Sidaway
