Despite waiting more than three years for a fair collective agreement, members of CUPE 2669, Saskatoon Public Library workers, are determined to keep up the fight. They held a read-in at Saskatoon city council this week to let councillors know they are still there, and that they want council to take action.
Lisa Worobec, a library assistant from Cliff Wright branch, organized the read-in. She was inspired by the civil rights movement that got its message across by occupying space.
“We were trying to brainstorm doing something noticeably librarian-esque. Being quiet while protesting, in accordance with our library rules, appealed to us and was fun at the same time.”
CUPE 2669 members have been attending city council meetings and wanted to try something different to get attention.
CUPE members have had public support throughout this long campaign for a fair contract and members of the public even joined the read-in.
“This was a really positive experience,” said Dolores Douglas, CUPE 2669 vice-president. “We’ll definitely do this again.”
Some members made their own book jackets, including “50 Shades of No Pay” and “Life of Why.”
Worobec said that library workers are already planning new titles for the next read-in.
CUPE 2669 represents approximately 250 library workers at Saskatoon Public Library. They have now been without a contract for more than three years. The employer is refusing to settle a fair contract regardless of repeated requests from the Local. CUPE 2669’s blog can be found at readallaboutus.net.