CUPE 3966 (Richmond public library workers) and the Richmond Public Library Board have both ratified a new four-year collective agreement.

The new agreement includes wage increases of 1.5 per cent in each of the first two years of the contract and increases of 2 per cent in each of the remaining years as well as improvements in how auxiliary workers accrue seniority, improvements to probationary language and increases to vision care and orthotics coverage.

“We are pleased to have concluded this round of negotiations and achieved an agreement that includes improvements that will positively affect our temporary and auxiliary workers,” says CUPE 3966 President Kate Adams. “All of our members are committed to the important community services they provide, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Richmond Public Library to deliver those services.”

The new agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2016 and runs until December 31, 2019.

CUPE 3966 represents approximately 120 library workers who provide community services at Richmond’s four public libraries.