Our Labour Dispute
Library Workers in the Greater Victoria Capital Region District, represented by CUPE Local 410, have been without a collective agreement for well over a year (1163 days) now, and in a legal strike position since Friday, September 7, 2007.
We are trying to bargain for the following two main benefits in our next collective agreement:
- Pay Equity: Meaning "equal pay for work of equal value" regardless of gender.
- A Fair Deal for pages and auxiliary workers: Meaning recognizing auxiliary workers who work regular shifts to be regular workers with fair access to job security, seniority and benefits.
From September 2007 to February 2008 we took a number of strike actions, including several full day shutdowns, and ongoing withdrawals of a number of library services.
Shamefully, Library Workers, and the people of Victoria and the Capital Area whom we proudly serve, were Locked Out of their Library on Black Monday, February 18, 2008.
In the 914 days since we started taking strike actions, the employer's bargaining agent has made no attempt to restart negotiations. Since early in 2007, they have simply refused to discuss the major outstanding issues. Library workers experience this as a contempt for their needs, and for their contributions to the quality of life in the Capital area.