NELSON – The Nelson Municipal Library’s contract dispute is settled and with that settlement comes guarantees that promote a strong and active public library for the B.C city.
“It was a difficult process but both library workers and Nelson residents have come out ahead, “ says Bev LaPointe, president of CUPE Local 399, the union representing the municipal library workers and all City of Nelson unionized staff.
The primary issue at stake for the workers was parity with other city workers, included through a letter of understanding that has been in existence since the early 1990’s. For Nelson library users the major benefit is the guarantee that all programs will be untouched.
“The workers gave something to maintain wage parity,” says LaPointe,” Like other city workers the library workers gave up benefits in the areas of sick leave. In addition the training incentive that some library workers had been receiving was relinquished to achieve an overall, across the board 7 per cent wage increase over four years.”
According to LaPointe one of the highpoints of the settlement is the maintenance of the library’s high quality services.
Mediator Deb Cameron succeeded in helping the Nelson Municipal Library Board and CUPE settle the disputed contract that has been outstanding for almost three years.
A brochure sent door-to-door in the Nelson area last week succeeded at providing residents with information both about the dispute and the services offered by the very popular municipal library.
The contract was unanimously ratified at meeting held this evening, May 2, 2006.
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Contact:Bev LaPointe: president, Local 339, Nelson Municipal Workers 250.354.7975
Nancy Radonich 250.359.7774