Library security guards necessary even though Ford disagrees: union
Posted January 31, 2014 6:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The union for Toronto Public Library workers says security guards at library branches are necessary even though Mayor Rob Ford disagrees.
During Thursday’s council meeting, Ford proposed that the city save $1.5 million if it cut library security guards. Of the 98 branches, there are 31 branches that employ security guards and they mostly work evenings and weekends.
“I don’t think we’re going to have two six-year-olds battling out over a dinosaur book that a security guard’s going to have to come in and break up,” he told council.
“Why waste money on people standing there doing absolutely nothing? If there’s a problem you call the police,” he said.
City council didn’t seem to agree with Ford voting down his proposal and many other motions he claimed would save the city some $60 million. And the head of Toronto Public Library Workers Union Local 4948 said security guards posted in libraries known to have issues provide a valuable service and have been doing so for 20 years.
“We do know statistics for violent and disruptive behaviours are increasing. The incidents are in the hundreds,” Maureen O’ Reilly said.
There have been stabbings, brawls and a murder, she said, referring to a young man who murdered his father with a crossbow at Main Street Library in December 2010.
But Coun. Jaye Robinson, who is the new vice-chair of the library board, said while she believes security in libraries is necessary Ford may have a point.
“I’m going to be putting this forward that we review once again the $1.5 million we’re spending on security guards,” she said.
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