Latest News
Lockout!
On Wednesday, February 13, the board of the GVLRA met and voted to lock out Library workers - and the people of the Capital Region whom we proudly serve - starting on Black Monday February 18, 2008.
Happy Valentines day, eh?
Labour Relations Board Denies Union Complaint
Labour Relations Board Vice-Chair Philip Topalian, in a ruling today (January 30), denied the Union's application for a finding of unfair labour practices against the Greater Victoria Public Library. He ruled that the waiving of fines was activity that "was not strike related activity and therefore was not activity which was protected under the Code".
At the same time he dismissed a complaint by the Library against the Union, ruling that any remedy sought by the Employer should be handled in another manner.
In view of this ruling, our "Food for Fines" initiative is cancelled, and will not be resumed. The Union does not intend, and has never intended, to take any strike action not permitted under the Labour Code. The "Food for Fines" initiative was taken in the belief that it was legal and upon advice that it was permitted by the code.
Formal Hearing
The parties were unable to come to any agreement that would satisfy both sides at the informal hearings yesterday, so there will be a formal hearing of the Union's charges of unfair labour practices on Thursday, January 24 in Victoria at the Harbour Towers Hotel, starting at 9:30 p.m.
Since the board has also chosen to hear the Employer's counter claim, the hearing may go into a second day, depending on how many of the stated facts the parties mutually agree on.
LRB Hearing
There will be an informal hearing at the Labour Relations Board offices in Vancouver this morning, January 22.
If no resolution is achieved there will be a formal hearing in Victoria on Thursday, January 24.
The hearings arise from a complaint of Unfair Labor Practices the Union has lodged against the employer. The employer has laid a counter-claim.
Lockout Threats
The Union received a letter from the Chair of the Library Board, Chris Graham, late Friday (January 18, 2008). The letter demands that the Union immediately cease it's "Food for Fines" job action whereby Library users are having their overdue fines waived by Union staff.
Mr. Graham adds that, if the Union does not cease this action, "I have been authorized to request, on behalf of the Library Board, that the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association proceed with steps necessary for a lock out".
The Union is currently proceeding with a charge of Unfair Labout Practices against the Library Board before the Labour Relations board. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
January 18, 2008 - Solidarity Two
Library workers in the Capital area were off the job, and all branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library were closed on Friday, January 18, 2008.
This action was taken in solidarity with one of our sisters who was unjustly suspended for two days because of her participation in legal strike action. A wrong to one is a wrong to all.
If members of the public wish to complain about this unjust action they may phone the Library C.E.O., Barry Holmes, at 413-0353.
January 16, 2008
Library workers in the Capital area were off the job and all branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library were closed for the day.
This action was taken in solidarity with one of our sisters who was unjustly suspended for one day because of her participation in legal strike action. A wrong to one is a wrong to all.
If members of the public wish to complain about this unjust action they may phone the Library C.E.O., Barry Holmes, at 413-0353.
Study Session!
On November 28, 2007, in response to what we perceived as threats to our members from Library management, we called a study session starting at 12:00 noon. All members of the Local came to Strike Headquarters and spend several hours discussing how the Union will respond to these threats.
Branches remained closed for the rest of the day, but opened at scheduled times on Thursday, November 29.
New Strike Action
On Tuesday November 27 we closed all branches for a day. All members went to the Central Library and picketed in large numbers there, asking Library Board members not to cross the picket line to attend the scheduled board meeting.
In response management moved the meeting to the Greater Victoria Labour Relations offices. Union members discoverd this location and several members attended the meeting at the GVLRA and picketed the GVLRA entrance.
Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday November 26, starting at 6:30 p.m., in our Strike Headquarters at 1609 Blanshard Road.
Rotating Strikes
This week (Nov. 5-10) we are doing rotating job action over three separate days, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, combined with study sessions each day. Over this period each branch will be closed once for an entire day.
The study sessions will last from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. and will cover the topic of Pay Equity so all members will understand just what it is and it's history in our collective agreement. There will also be time for open discussion.
Open Letter to the G.V.L.R.A.
Out to Lunch
Beginning today and until further notice, most members of CUPE 410 will be taking their lunch hour at the same time, resulting in the closure of all 10 branches between 12 noon and 1pm. Services to the public will not be available during this time.
For more details click on the "media" tab.
Time for Ourselves
After two days of job action with picketing at all Library branches on October twentieth and twenty first, Victoria's Library workers took some "time for ourselves" on Monday the twenty second. All branches of the Library system remained closed, but there was no picketing.
The "official opening" of our strike headquarters at 1609 Blanshard street took place at 2:00 in the afternoon, followed by four hours of discussions, brainstorming, letter writing, solidarity and, oh yes, a little eating.
In the eventing at 7:30 we met at Oak Bay Council to be peacefully present at the Council meeting scheduled for that night. Mayor Causton and council graciously modified their agenda to let CUPE Local 410 president Ed Seedhouse to speak to them about our concerns.
After Ed spoke for five minutes Library workers dispersed quietly and returned to the job on the morning of Tuesday, March twenty third.
Job action with cake!
Workers on the picket lines handed out cake on Saturday in honour of Nellie McClung's birthday. Born October 20, 1873, the Canadian suffragist and social reformer lived in Victoria in her later years. McClung was one of the five women in 1929 who were successful in their peitition to the courts to include women in the meaning of the word "persons" under the British North America Act.
Local 410 shut down all branches of GVPL for three days in its ongoing ten year fight for pay equity. About 80 percent of library workers are women. More than 125 years after the birth of Nellie McClung, the wage gap between men and women is still not equal. Local 410 is still insisting that the employer honor the intentions signed in the 1990s to fund pay equity.
All branches are expected to open on Tuesday morning.
Peaceful Presence at Esquimalt City Council on October 15
Once again Library workers engaged in "peaceful presence" at a municipal counil meeting, attending Esquimalt council on Monday, October 15, hoping to find someone who wouldl listen to our concerns. At the end of the meeting Ed Seedhouse, President, was able to give a short explanation of our concerns to the council, which listened attentively.
After Ed spoke, a citizen of Esquimalt also spoke to the council about his concerns about the treatment of Library workers.
Job Action October 11
All branches were closed by strike action at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday the 11th. to allow Library Workers to attend Victoria City Council meeting. Our members sat patiently for three and a half hours until question period stared. The Council listened to two or three questions, then moved into camera.
Job Action October 9
Local 410 took job action today, closing all branches for four hours while Library workers attended the scheduled meeting of the Library Board.
Ed Seedhouse, President of the local, spoke briefly to the board to outline the Union's case for pay equity.
All branches were open again by 4:00 p.m.
On the YouTube!
Videos by Adam Dykes are now up on YouTube.
The rally video is also up on a number of other outlets, including MySpace, Google Video, Facebook, Revver, and VidiLife.
Closed for the day!
Friday, September 21, 2007
For the first time in history today, Victoria Public Library workers shut down every branch for a full day in pursuit their own bargaining agenda.
At 11:30 we joined together and marched down Douglas Street to Centennial square for a rally. Our media release on the event is now on line, and CUPE B.C. now has a photo gallery for the event on line. More photos on the Strike Blog.
Neil Williams, past chair of the board, addressed the demonstration and the text can be found here.