Fact sheet: Use of volunteers in libraries

Library workers are increasingly concerned about the use of volunteers.

Employers use volunteers to cut labour costs and to avoid creating new, paying jobs. They sometimes use volunteer labour in a way that can contribute to a negative labour relations climate. We need to ensure that employers can’t cut jobs and services by substituting library workers with unpaid work. Volunteerism can be acceptable, but there must be guidelines that are agreed upon by the union.

Consult the fact sheet below for more information about this issue and for examples of bargaining language.