Toronto library workers could strike Monday
Posted April 28, 2016 6:55 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto’s more than 2,000 library workers could go on strike first thing Monday morning, forcing all 100 branches to close.
The deadline for a lockout or strike is 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
The union representing library staff said they’re concerned about the state of negotiations.
According to the Toronto Star, CUPE Local 4948 has been waiting nearly a week for the library board’s response to their latest proposal.
Earlier this month, union president Maureen O’Reilly said workers are looking to shift to more full-time, permanent jobs as most of their positions are part-time work and have limited access to pensions or benefits.
Their four-year contract expired Dec. 31. The Toronto Public Library board was the only city staff to strike during Rob Ford’s tenure as mayor.
Library workers are planning to stage a rally, billed as a ‘Teddy Bears Picket,’ in front of City Hall on Saturday. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local 4948 CUPE represents 2,200 full and part-time library workers across 100 Toronto Public Libraries.
