TORONTO – Toronto Public Library workers have voted 79% in favour of strike action if a deal cannot be reached between the Toronto Public Library Board and the Toronto Civic Employees’ Union, Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The 2,400 workers will be in a legal strike or lockout position at 12:01 am, July 14th.
“Over 50% of the library workforce is now part-time, with little or no benefits – it is obvious that Library management does not believe in full employment, and unless that attitude changes, it is likely we will have a strike,” said Maureen O’Reilly, a member of the Local 416 library negotiating committee.
Local 416 also represents 6,000 outside workers, currently negotiating towards a 12:00 noon, July 9th strike deadline.
A shutdown at Toronto Public Libraries would end all children’s summer programs, public access to computer terminals, home delivery programs for seniors, and all library services.
For further information, please contact:
Robert Lamoureux
CUPE Communications
416-292-3999, ext. 216 (voicemail)
416-727-9144 (cell)