REGINA:The union representing 180 Regina Public Library workers is accusing their employer of reneging on a commitment to pay equity made during the last round of contract negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is taking issue with comments made by RPL Library Director Sandy Cameron in yesterdays Star Phoenix. In an article addressing the current contract dispute at the Saskatoon Public Library, the newspaper reports that Cameron says he never would have promised to implement the recommendations of a pay equity study at the RPL without knowing the costs.
We are shocked that the library director appears to be repudiating the Letter of Understanding we signed committing the union and employer to a joint study and implementation of pay equity at the library, said Rosemary Oddie, acting president of CUPE Local 1594, which represents the library workers.
The library agreed that the results of this study would be implemented, subject to negotiation and agreement between the parties, said Oddie. The negotiation and agreement portion of the letter pertain to the phase-in of pay equity. Its right there in black and white, which includes Mr. Camerons signature.
The Letter of Understanding was signed on June 14th following a month-long strike by the 180 library workers, who are predominantly women.
The agreement commits both parties to the concept of pay equity, based on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and a review of external male wage lines utilized by employers in Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions.
Oddie said library workers are getting frustrating with managements foot-dragging on implementing pay equity. The joint report on pay equity is due no later than December 31, 2003, but the union is having difficulty getting management to agree to meeting dates.
The union says it will take all necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Cameron lives up to his commitment.
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For more information contact Rosemary Oddie at 777-6005 or staff representative Mike Keith at 525-5874.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is taking issue with comments made by RPL Library Director Sandy Cameron in yesterdays Star Phoenix. In an article addressing the current contract dispute at the Saskatoon Public Library, the newspaper reports that Cameron says he never would have promised to implement the recommendations of a pay equity study at the RPL without knowing the costs.
We are shocked that the library director appears to be repudiating the Letter of Understanding we signed committing the union and employer to a joint study and implementation of pay equity at the library, said Rosemary Oddie, acting president of CUPE Local 1594, which represents the library workers.
The library agreed that the results of this study would be implemented, subject to negotiation and agreement between the parties, said Oddie. The negotiation and agreement portion of the letter pertain to the phase-in of pay equity. Its right there in black and white, which includes Mr. Camerons signature.
The Letter of Understanding was signed on June 14th following a month-long strike by the 180 library workers, who are predominantly women.
The agreement commits both parties to the concept of pay equity, based on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and a review of external male wage lines utilized by employers in Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions.
Oddie said library workers are getting frustrating with managements foot-dragging on implementing pay equity. The joint report on pay equity is due no later than December 31, 2003, but the union is having difficulty getting management to agree to meeting dates.
The union says it will take all necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Cameron lives up to his commitment.
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For more information contact Rosemary Oddie at 777-6005 or staff representative Mike Keith at 525-5874.