Public invited to town hall meetings in Victoria on March 26 and in Esquimalt on March 27
“Understanding Pay Equity in the 21st Century”
VICTORIA – Local library workers are sponsoring two additional town hall meetings next week. The first will be held in Victoria on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Fairfield Community Centre at 1335 Thurlow Street in the Garry Oak room. The second town hall meeting will be held in Esquimalt on Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 pm at the Archie Browning Sports Center at 1151 Esquimalt Road in the Crows Nest Lounge. These town hall meetings are part of a series of public discussions about pay equity – the issue over which the Greater Victoria Public Library Board closed all nine branches and locked out library workers.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to voice concerns and send a message to the Library Board and local politicians,” said Ed Seedhouse, President of CUPE Local 410. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the groundswell of public support.”
John Fryer, Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration, will moderate the Victoria town hall meeting. The moderator for the Esquimalt town hall meeting is to be confirmed.
The panelists remain the same for both meetings. Panelist Dr. Annalee Lepp, Chair of Women’s Studies at University of Victoria, will briefly discuss the history of women’s struggle for equality. Sheilagh Allan, Vice-President of CUPE Local 951 at the University of Victoria, will speak on job evaluation and pay equity; and Andrea Brimmell, Vice-President of CUPE Local 410, will review Greater Victoria Regional District library workers’ struggle for pay equity.
The public is invited to these free town hall meetings to hear from experts on both sides of the debate, and to share their own views on the issue. Local politicians have also been invited to participate.
Contact: Ed Seedhouse, CUPE Local 410 President: 250.588.9565
Justin Schmid, CUPE Representative: 250.889.5709
Janet Szliske, CUPE Communications: 604.454.7293