Today the Ontario Labour Relations Board, OLRB, certified workers at the Prince Edward County Public Library as the newest CUPE members.
The certification follows a decisive vote by the library workers on October 6. The members work in six branches across the County.
“Libraries and library workers across the province are facing huge challenges, and Prince Edward County is no exception. Library workers are on the front line of the affordable housing, addiction and mental health crises in every town and city. The problem is compounded by wages that haven’t kept up with inflation for more than a decade,” said Joanna Howard, a new CUPE member who works as a youth programmer at the library.
“We’re excited to welcome this group to the CUPE family and will be ready to stand with them as they negotiate a first collective agreement that addresses the concerns of workers in library branches across our community,” said Jason Young, president of CUPE 2275, which represents municipal workers in the county.
CUPE members work in 64 municipal public library systems across Ontario.