GRAND FORKS—The CUPE 2254 bargaining committee is scheduled to meet with the Grand Forks Library Board tomorrow for a two-day session with provincial mediator Mark Atkinson.
The five public library workers were locked out on January 20 before any negotiations had taken place.
Bargaining committee member Leanne Strang said she is looking forward to the opportunity to negotiate. “We have two priorities,” she said, “getting a fair collective agreement and getting back to our jobs serving the community.”
Strang added that “Once meaningful negotiations are underway, we hope to return to work under the terms of our expired collective agreement, as is normal during contract talks.” The Board had insisted that the workers return to work under its imposed contract, which guts the collective agreement negotiated over the past 15 years.
The provincial mediator has said a third day of talks on Saturday is possible if progress is being made.