TORONTO - Today, the Toronto Public Library Workers Union, CUPE Local 4948, is joining other CUPE members at the head of the International Women’s Day march to highlight the need for the City to respect thousands of women who provide public services.
“We are reminded today of the importance of protecting the rights and security of women workers while we bargain on the behalf of hundreds of women who work in our city’s libraries,” said Maureen O’Reilly, president of Local 4948.
Local 4948 and Local 79, representing Toronto’s inside workers, are currently in contract negotiations with the City. Women make up 75 percent of both locals’ membership.
“Women workers have unique issues. More and more of them are the sole earners in single parent households, many are part-time,” O’Reilly commented. “We must ensure that they have good jobs, respect and dignity in their workplace.”
The City’s proposals at the bargaining table puts women workers at risk by reducing benefits, hours of work and jobs. Working women will have less certainty in their pay from month to month and their expenses when they or a family member gets sick.
Local 4948 declared last week that they had reached an impasse at the bargaining table with the Library Board and requested a “No Board” report from the Province, which was issued on March 1.
A rally at OISE at 11 a.m will be followed by the march at 1 p.m. The march will start at OISE and end at Ryerson University. A fair and workshops will continue throughout the afternoon.
For further information:
Cim Nunn
416-627-7695