WINDSOR, ON - Windsor Public Library workers voted 90% in favour of strike action after their employer walked away from negotiations, leaving 87 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) with little choice to defend library services in the face of threatened branch closures and cutbacks. A strike could begin early in the New Year.
“As Windsor City Council threatens to reduce funding to libraries, Library management has refused to address the issue of job security at the bargaining table,” said CUPE National Representative Julia Ardiel. “They walked away from the table without dealing with monetary issues, and without addressing important issues of fair employment practices, consistency in policy application and respect for our members.”/>
Representatives of CUPE 2067.1 have applied to the ministry of Labour for a conciliation officer to assist with future negotiations, in the hope of averting a strike that would shut down libraries in the Windsor area. Monetary issues, employment security, work of the bargaining unit, the use of volunteers and supply staff to perform the duties of CUPE library workers and other important issues remain outstanding.
“We urge management to return to the bargaining table with a view to settling this dispute without a strike,” said Ardiel. “But the people of Windsor need to know if conciliation and mediation talks fail to reach a settlement, we will need to take a strike in order to defend public library services in our community. All it takes to prevent a strike is a fair contract that addresses employment security and service delivery – the future of Windsor library services is at stake.”
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For further information, please contact:
Julia Ardiel
CUPE National Representative
519-966-9595
Robert Lamoureux
CUPE Communications
416-292-3999