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CUPE Local 905 members from the Newmarket Public Library (NPL) in Ontario held an information picket on Tuesday, January 4, to let their patrons know about the sad state of their negotiations.

Handing out a leaflet entitled “We’re not asking for the moon”, members warned the public of a pending strike, and highlighted issues including employer efforts to replace part-time workers with volunteers, unfair sick leave provisions and vacation time between full-time and part-time workers.

They also drew attention to the high number of 14 non-union/management staff managing roughly 34 unionized staff; and to the fact that two management members, the CEO and the Deputy CEO, appear on the provincial sunshine list with earnings over $100,000 per year. The union members, on the other hand, are only asking for parity with other library workers in York Region.

You can help!

A strike deadline has been set for January 12, 12:01 am, and Local 905 is asking library clients and friends to call the new CEO Todd Kyle at 905-953-5110 or send him an email at tkyle@newmarketpl.ca to voice their concerns.

The members also suggest copying the Mayor of Newmarket, Tony Van Bynen at mayor@newmarket.ca to avoid a strike and service disruption when Local 905 is not asking for the moon. A last chance mediation session is scheduled for Monday, January 10, so time is running out.