Media Releases

Patrons suffer as Greater Victoria Public Library locks out workers

Board decision comes despite union's repeated efforts to return to bargaining table

VICTORIA-Yesterday's decision by the board of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) to close all nine branches of the library system and lock out its workers only serves to punish members of the public who have made the GVPL one of the busiest library systems in Canada, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The lockout, which begins on Sunday at 5 p.m., will affect more than 300 employees who, as members of CUPE 410, have been struggling to achieve pay equity with equivalent City of Victoria positions during a labour dispute with the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) that is now in its sixth month.

"They're not only locking us out-they're also locking out the thousands of library patrons who depend on the service we provide," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"The library board is punishing the public to make their point, which is that they don't want pay equity."

Seedhouse says that the employer is misleading the public by claiming it is eager to negotiate, noting that CUPE 410 has made at least four attempts to return to the bargaining table but has been rejected in each case.

"Given the many efforts we've made just to be able to talk with the employer, Christopher Graham's quote in the board's press release-which suggests that we need to be more willing to talk-is, frankly, ridiculous. We have been trying to get them to talk to us for months now."

Seedhouse said that CUPE 410 is booking a room for Monday morning and has invited the employer to return to the table.

"On Monday we will be prepared to bargain," he said. "The board chair has said that we have to get back to the table, and we couldn't agree more. So we're hoping the employer will finally be willing to do that."

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Union suspends food for fines, pending labour board ruling

VICTORIA-Greater Victoria Public Library workers announced today that they revert to previous job action of not collecting fines, and will suspend the 'food for fines' action while their union awaits the resolution of a Labour Relations Board complaint. CUPE 410, which represents the library workers, also confirmed that it will not take action closing all library branches on Monday, January 21 in protest of a member's suspension.

CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse said that the employer's threat to lock out workers in response to the union filing an unfair labour practices complaint against the library for suspending a CUPE member for waiving fines for food is making matters worse.

"We are frankly shocked at a January 18 letter from Christopher Graham, Library Board chair, saying that the Board will take 'the steps necessary for a lock out if union members do not stop waiving fines for food donations," says Seedhouse.

In response, CUPE 410 has suspended 'food for fines' until the LRB rules on the unfair labour practices complaint. Seedhouse said they are confident the decision will be in the union's favour.

The union confirmed that an informal meeting to hear its complaint has been scheduled for January 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the LRB offices in Vancouver. Should that meeting fail to resolve the complaint, a formal hearing is tentatively set for January 24 in Victoria.

"It's important to remember why we're doing these actions-including food for fines-is to put pressure on the employer to return to the bargaining table and resolve the issue of pay equity once and for all," says Seedhouse.

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Library worker suspended again, union files LRB complaint

CUPE 410 members walk out once more as employer moves to ‘protect assets’

VICTORIA, January 18, 2008—A Greater Victoria Public Library worker who was suspended two days ago for waiving fines for food bank donations received a two-day suspension today, prompting a second union walkout and shutdown of all nine GVPL branches, as well as an unfair labour practices complaint by CUPE to the Labour Relations Board.

Central branch circulation supervisor Helen Hughes is suspended for today and Monday. With the employer escalating disciplinary measures against CUPE 410 members, three other workers who have received verbal warnings for waiving fines for food are also expected to face suspensions.

Earlier today, in its complaint to the LRB, CUPE 410 said that the waiving of fines is a legal strike activity and that “therefore the employer cannot retaliate against employees engaged in this lawful strike action.”

CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse said that it is unfair of the employer to target and intimidate individual members for a collective union action.

Seedhouse, citing a January 15 letter to him from GVPL chief executive Barry Holmes, also questioned Holmes’s claim that the library, by disciplining employees in this way, was acting to “protect the library’s assets.”

“How are fines an asset?” Seedhouse asked. “What about the patrons, the workers, the books and the materials? Food for fines, as an action, is actually bringing patrons back to the library in big numbers—and that has to be considered an asset.”

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CUPE 410 member suspended, local walks out for a day

In dispute’s latest twist, Employer cites ‘food for fines’ job action as grounds for discipline

VICTORIA, January 16, 2008—A “food for fines” program that Greater Victoria Public Library workers initiated before the holiday season—and which was endorsed by management despite being part of a job action—has now resulted in the suspension of a library employee and a one-day shutdown of all GVPL branches in support of that worker.

The union, which represents public library workers in the Capital region, is picketing all nine branches of the GVPL today.

“Food for fines is a legitimate strike action,” says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse, describing the practice of waiving outstanding late charges and other fines in exchange for contributions to local food banks.

“Disciplining our members for such activity violates the collective agreement between the parties and the Labour Relations Code. By walking out today, we are simply doing what is necessary to protect our members.”

In a letter to GVPL chief executive Barry Holmes, the Union has asked the Employer to stop disciplining or threatening to discipline members of CUPE 410 for participating in “food for fines”, and to rescind discipline already imposed on CUPE members.

The Union is pointing to the example of Farwest Handydart Services Inc. and Local 3 of the Independent Canadian Transit Union to support the legality of the “food for fines” job action. In that case, the arbitrator found that the drivers’ refusal to collect fares was lawful strike activity—for which employers are not entitled to discipline employees.

“What is most galling about this suspension is that the Employer previously endorsed the waiving of fines when it characterized ‘food for fines’ as a ‘joint initiative’ or a ‘GVPL campaign’. It did this in an e-mail on November 28, on its web page, and in a CBC radio interview,” says Seedhouse.

CUPE 410 is in the process of drafting an unfair labour practice complaint to the LRB.

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Library workers highlight inequity

VICTORIA - Greater Victoria library workers have given municipal politicians some homework on pay equity. The issue is at the heart of the impasse in negotiations with the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA).

"GVLRA spokespersons contend that pay equity has been achieved and refuse to negotiate with CUPE Local 410 on this issue," said CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"We have sent each Victoria area municipal politician documentation on the history of the library's pay equity issue, along with a highlighter pen. We are asking them to highlight any job classifications where they feel have achieved pay equity," explained Seedhouse.

It will quickly become evident that, contrary to the GVLRA position, pay equity has not been achieved for CUPE members in the library. "There just isn't any evidence to support the GVLRA's claim," said Seedhouse.

CUPE 410 represents 250 library workers in the GVPL system in the Central, Oak Bay, Emily Carr, Nellie McClung, Central Saanich, Esquimalt, Saanich Centennial, Bruce Hutchison, and Juan de Fuca branches.

The union began creative forms of job action in September, following a 90 per cent strike vote in July.

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Library Workers attend emergency study session.

Victoria, November 28, 2007 - Greater Victoria Library workers left the job at 12:00 today and closed all branches while they attended an emergency study session. The action was in response to what the Union characterized as "perceived threats" from management.

The action came after the Union received email from Barry Homes, CEO of the Greater Victoria Public Library claiming that the union's "Food for fines" initiative, announced yesterday, was not a legal strike action. The letter went on to say that "If the Union membership takes steps to purport to act beyond the Union's authority and waive fines, the Library will take immediate steps to discipline the Union member in question."

That isn't fair, according to Ed Seedhouse, president of CUPE Local 410. "We don't think our planned strike action is in any way illegal", he said, "but if the employer believes it is they have ways of addressing the problem without threatening individual union members."

"It is wrong to individually punish a union member for a strike action she was instructed to take by her Union", he added. "Any claim the employer may have should be made against the Union, not the individual members."

"The Union is always willing to reconsider any action that may not be legal", Seedhouse said, "and in fact we have already done so in one case - but we will not be cowed by threats."

Library workers will return to the job on Thursday. More details about the Union's response to this situation will be released tomorrow morning, November 29.

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Library workers walk out, offer patrons "food for fines"

Victoria, November 27, 2007 - Greater Victoria library workers have shut down all nine library branches and put up picket lines around the Central Branch in order to draw attention to their ongoing dispute with the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA).

"The GVLRA has refused to negotiate even one penny towards funding pay equity for Victoria Library workers, who are predominately female and continue to experience wage discrimination," said Ed Seedhouse, president of CUPE Local 410. "This is a major step backwards for fairness, given that, for the last 15 years, our employer provided over 7% towards the goal of reaching pay equity with male-dominated positions at the City of Victoria."

"The job action today is about informing the public and the politicians that this issue won't go away until the GVLRA gets back to the bargaining table and starts negotiating pay equity funding," said Seedhouse.

As further strike action the union announced a "food for fines" initiative. Commencing November 28, striking library workers will forgive any library fines over the $10 limit if a patron brings an item for the local food bank.

Seedhouse said his members are "prepared to keep escalating our job action until the GVLRA comes back to the bargaining table."

The union began creative forms of job action in September, following a 90 per cent strike vote in July.

CUPE 410 represents 250 library workers in the GVPL system in the Central, Oak Bay, Emily Carr, Nellie McClung, Central Saanich, Esquimalt, Saanich Centennial, Bruce Hutchinson, and Juan de Fuca branches.

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CUPE 410 steps up job action this week with rotating closures

Nine GVPL branches to be affected in closures today, Thursday and Friday

VICTORIA - CUPE 410 is continuing its job action this week with nine different branches closing in rotating job actions today, Thursday and Friday - a move aimed at convincing the employer to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract for the city's library workers.

Today's branch closures are Saanich Centennial, Oak Bay, Nellie McClung, and Emily Carr. Thursday will see Juan de Fuca/Tech Services, Central Saanich, Bruce Hutchison and Esquimalt branches closing, and Friday's closure will be Central branch.

As in the union local's most recent actions there will be no picketing but CUPE 410 members will attend the local's strike headquarters from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for study sessions on pay equity, followed by discussion and questions.

"The purpose of the study sessions is to make sure our members are educated on the Pay Equity issue and can communicate this understanding to the public if called on to do so," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"With respect to pay equity and job evaluation comparisons with City positions, the number crunching has already been done. Now it's up to the City to live up to its promise, show some willingness to return to the bargaining table and finally negotiate a fair contract that includes pay equity for library workers."

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Pay equity cost per Victorian: '1 large cup of latte per year'

CUPE research brief shows union proposal would cost $4.08 annually for CRD residents

VICTORIA , November 2, 2007 —Negotiators for the City of Victoria have raised alarm about the $1.43 million cost of CUPE 410’s proposed pay equity package to local taxpayers, but a briefing note released today by CUPE’s National Research department shows that the annual incremental cost of the proposal would be less than five dollars per resident.

Combining the number of property owners in the Greater Victoria area according to the B.C. Assessment Authority (132,000) with the total population of the service area for the Greater Victoria Public Library Board (292,342), the briefing note shows that the annual cost per person in the service area is $4.89. In the Capital Regional District, which has 350,000 residents, the cost is $4.08 per person.

"That’s like one large cup of latte a year," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"I think Victoria residents would agree that paying their library workers fairly is worth at least that much."

A copy of the full briefing note: http://www.cupe.bc.ca/files/nov_2_cupe_410briefing_note_-_pay_equity_proposal.pdf

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CUPE takes employer’s advice, files pay equity grievance

Tip from GVLRA chair during CBC radio interview prompts demand for full redress

VICTORIA — CUPE 410 has filed a grievance in response to an on-air challenge, during a radio interview yesterday, by the chair of the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) regarding the union’s campaign for pay equity for library workers.

GVLRA Chair Ted Daly, appearing with CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse yesterday morning on CBC Radio's "On the Island" program, suggested that the union file a grievance to resolve the job evaluation/pay equity plan.

"The way to resolve that is file a grievance with respect to the memorandum and let it be dealt with in the normal course of events," Daly told host Gregor Craigie, adding that raising the issue during collective bargaining "is not the way to do it."

The union has responded with a grievance claiming that the employer violated the letter of understanding "when it failed to compare Library positions to equivalent positions at the City for job evaluation and pay equity purposes." It calls for "all affected employees (to) receive full redress, including wages and benefits retroactive to April 1, 1993."

As well as the grievance, the union is also filing a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal claiming that the employer has discriminated, and continues to discriminate, against workers at the Library on the basis of sex because the Library Board has failed to provide equal pay for work of equal value for female-dominated positions at the library.

"During the interview, Mr. Daly also mentioned that we already have an 'independent third party' for these negotiations, mediator Grant McArthur, and suggested that the union get in touch with Mr. McArthur and ask him to get back involved," said Seedhouse.

"The union followed Mr. Daly's suggestion and contacted Mr. McArthur. Mr. McArthur confirmed this morning that he contacted the GVLRA but they are still unwilling to modify their position that 'pay equity has already been dealt with' and therefore there is no point in bringing the parties together to mediate the dispute."

"I just wish they would get their story straight", added Seedhouse.

Listen to the full CBC interview with Ed Seedhouse and Ted Daly

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Library workers to protest 'out to lunch' GVLRA policy

Pay equity campaign continues with noon-hour shut down of all branches, to begin today

VICTORIA, October 29, 2007 - The Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) is out to lunch on pay equity issues, says the union representing Victoria's library workers-so those workers are sitting out the noon hour in protest.

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.

"This action is not about 'not working', but about showing our employer, and the GVLRA through which it bargains, that library workers are united in our demand for what we were promised," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"There will be no picketing involved. By taking a common lunch hour, we're telling the GVLRA that they are totally wrong about pay equity and that they need to get their facts straight."

Recent media reports have quoted the GVLRA, and its chief negotiator Ron Brunsdon, as saying that "pay equity" was dealt with years ago and that library workers are now saying they want to be paid the same as City workers doing other jobs. In fact, says Seedhouse, library workers are not seeking anything new.

"The comparison between library wages and those of the City of Victoria was established 15 years ago, in a pay equity agreement reached between CUPE Local 410 and the GVLRA on September 16, 1992," Seedhouse wrote, in a letter sent to the GVLRA.

"That agreement was signed by the current Chief Negotiator for the GVLRA, Mr. Ron Brunsdon. In that agreement, it clearly states, 'It is understood that positions in the Library which are equivalent to positions in the City of Victoria shall be compared for the purposes of Job Evaluation and Pay Equity.'"

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CUPE 410 marks Nellie McClung's birthday by launching three-day job action

VICTORIA, October 20, 2007 - Nellie McClung was a passionate crusader for equality, and that's one reason Greater Victoria Public Library workers are shutting down all branches - beginning with what would have been the legendary women's rights activist's 134th birthday today.

"If Nellie were alive today and saw how the City of Victoria treats its library workers, most of whom are women, she would raise bloody hell," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse, noting that one of the library's Saanich branches is named for McClung.

In a continuing effort to achieve a fair contract with pay equity, CUPE 410 members will shut down all nine GVPL branches today, tomorrow and Monday. Picketing will take place today and tomorrow, and on Monday the union will hold the official opening of its strike headquarters at 1609 Blanshard Street (2 p.m. until 6 p.m.).

That will be followed by a peaceful appearance at Oak Bay council's regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. The library workers will return to work on Tuesday.

To celebrate Nellie McClung's birthday today, CUPE 410 members will be handing out birthday cake instead of books.

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Got an overdue library book? Pocket the fine—for now

Latest action by CUPE 410 in bid for fair contract aimed at cutting off library revenue

VICTORIA October 16, 2007 — As part of CUPE 410's escalating job action and withdrawal of services, the union’s members are being instructed not to accept any payments from customers for overdue fines, effective today and until further notice.

The purpose of this action is to cut off revenue from the library, says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"We have no objection to management collecting the fines, but we will not assist them in doing so," said Seedhouse.

"If they wish to use a member's workstation to enter the fines, we’re advising members to allow them to do so and wait quietly until they are done. If they ask for advice on how to do that, members will politely refuse and, if there’s a protest, the manager is to be referred to me."

Seedhouse emphasized that the action does not mean the library has become "fine free". Fines on overdue items will still be added to patron's accounts when the items are returned. Furthermore, if a patron’s account is over the $10.00 limit, Circulation clerks are to over-ride and allow the patron to check out the books.

"At this time, we will continue to accept payment for everything but overdue fines," he said.

Patrons who want to pay their fines may be referred to the administration office at Central branch, but CUPE 410 members there are also not to collect fines, but rather ask a manager to deal with the patron.

"As I’ve said many times, we are ready to return to the bargaining table any time," said Seedhouse, adding that further actions will be announced as they are confirmed.

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CUPE 410 suspends Internet service at all GVPL branches

Union says employer avoiding the issue by rejecting arbitration on pay equity levels

VICTORIA October 12, 2007 - In the latest of a series of job actions aimed at achieving a fair contract with pay equity, CUPE 410 this morning suspended indefinitely Internet service for library patrons at all 10 branches of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL).

The action comes as the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) appears on the verge of rejecting arbitration as a solution to the pay equity issue.

On Wednesday, CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse wrote to GVLRA chief negotiator Ron Brunsden, advising him that the union would seek an arbitrator's decision on whether pay equity levels had been reached for library jobs equivalent to City of Victoria jobs.

Yesterday, Brunsdon replied that he would recommend to GVLRA directors "that the collective bargaining process as set out in the Labour Code be respected and followed - not arbitration."

Seedhouse said that Brunsdon is avoiding the key issue of this dispute.

"The GVLRA knows its position on pay equity cannot stand up to rational scrutiny and is transparently uninterested in reason or fairness," he said.

"Instead, it is seeking to perpetuate discrimination against a group of women workers it perceives as being weak and isolated, and it's trying to bully library workers into surrender. That will never happen."

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CUPE 410 to suspend library programs, resume job action

Union president says City negotiator Brunsdon misleading taxpayers on pay equity issue

VICTORIA, Oct. 9, 2007 The union representing public library workers in Greater Victoria is continuing its job action and preparing to cancel various library programs while its members seek a fair contract that addresses pay equity, CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse said today.

"CUPE 410 will abide by the results of binding arbitration to determine whether or not pay equity has in fact been addressed by the current pay structure," said Seedhouse, "but we're certainly not going to abide by the employer's current views on pay equity."

Seedhouse was referring to comments by the Greater Victoria Public Library's chief negotiator Ron Brunsdon, published in today's edition of the Times Colonist, that the union is "putting a spin" on the pay equity issue "to attract public sympathy and support" during bargaining and that it is making false comparisons between job classifications.

"Mr. Brunsdon is unwilling to acknowledge what is plain for all to see: that there is a significant wage gap, 20 to 30 percent in some cases, between equivalent jobs in the City and the Library, and that this disparity mostly affects women," said Seedhouse.

"The job evaluation comparisons have been done, as required by the 1992 memorandum of agreement, and pay equity was promised for all equivalent positions."

CUPE 410 resumed job action for four hours today, with most branches stopping work at 11 a.m. and Central branch workers stopping at noon.

Seedhouse said that various library programs will be cancelled indefinitely. These include all early literacy story times, family drop-ins and preschooler reading programs, story clubs, all national science and technology week programs, Halloween events, class and school visits, and outreach presentations. The Esquimalt Story Fest, which is mostly sponsored by the local recreation centre, will proceed as scheduled.

Cancelled adult programs include alternative health, Chinese medicine and sport, book talks and author readings, sessions on investments, wills and estates, continuing education programs, Camosun College career development and a wide variety of adult computer education courses taught by librarians.

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Saanich council "playing the ostrich" in library dispute

City's reason for denying union delegation to meeting doesn't wash, says CUPE 410

VICTORIA - September 28, 2007 Saanich's municipal council is sticking its head in the sand by refusing to accept a union delegation to its regular meeting on October 1, the union representing Greater Victoria Public Library workers charged today.

CUPE 410, whose members have closed the library system with strike action three times since September 7, contacted Saanich staff on Tuesday requesting delegation status at the upcoming meeting. Two days later, the union was informed that Saanich council meetings "do not have a public presentation or delegation section," and that "all labour relations in Saanich are dealt with In Camera."

That response only adds insult to injury, says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse.

"First the Library, their bargaining agent, and the municipalities that fund them betrayed us by refusing to pay what they agreed to 15 years ago in a binding agreement," said Seedhouse, referring to a promise to introduce pay equity with workers doing equivalent jobs at Victoria City Hall.

"Now Saanich council has refused even to hear us. With four library branches in Saanich already taking job action, why wouldn't they want to come forward and try to influence the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association-which they broke away from-to get both sides back to the table? They're really playing the ostrich here."

Seedhouse said the official reason given for the refusal doesn't make sense.

"The Municipality tells us that they deal with all negotiations matters in camera, but there are no negotiations," he said. "Their bargaining agent will not discuss Pay Equity at the negotiations table."

Seedhouse added that library workers plan to be at Saanich municipal hall "in large numbers" on Monday (Oct 1).

"Let them refuse us to our faces," he said. "We will just be there, peacefully waiting to be listened to."

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Victoria library workers rally for pay equity

VICTORIA, September 21 2007 — CUPE 410, representing Greater Victoria Public Library workers, held a festive march and rally today with over 300 people participating.

After marching down Douglas Street from the Central Library to Centennial Square, library workers and others were buoyed by the energy of the crowd and support from rally speakers.

Neil Williams, past-president of the Greater Victoria Public Library Board, spoke strongly in support of pay equity, saying it was his first-ever labour rally. NDP MLA for Victoria-Hillside, Rob Fleming, called on the Campbell government to keep its promise to fund B.C. libraries and told library workers that the public is behind them.

Saying that his members had finally been pushed to the wall on the issue of pay equity, Ed Seedhouse, CUPE 410 president, said, "We care so much about the service we give, and we are so very reluctant to deprive our users of it."

Alex Youngberg, president of CUPE 391 representing currently striking library workers in Vancouver, brought a strong message of solidarity. Youngberg said that she was proud of the fight for fairness and pay equity for library workers in Victoria and Vancouver – and thanked them for having the courage to take job action.

All members were off the job for the full day today, affecting the Greater Victoria Public Library's nine branches. The union had put job action on hold last week in the hopes that library management would return to negotiations. However, due to the employer's refusal to bargain, they took job action today. They have not yet announced plans for future job action.

Photos from today's event.

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Victoria library workers to rally and resume job action

VICTORIA, Sept. 20 — CUPE 410, representing Greater Victoria Public Library workers, will hold a march and rally on September 21 in support of a fair collective agreement that includes pay equity.

The union put job action on hold last week in the hopes that library management would return to negotiations. However, due to the employer’s refusal to bargain, CUPE 410 will resume job action, and for the first time will pull all 250 of its members off the job for the full day, affecting all nine branches of the library.

March & Rally Friday September 21, 2007

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Quiet no more: Victoria library workers take message to public

September 23 2007 - VICTORIA The message on the picket sign says it all: "Shhh...We've been quiet too long. Pay Equity Now!"

That was a familiar refrain on picket signs throughout Greater Victoria on Thursday, as CUPE 410 members hit the sidewalks in their second job action since serving strike notice last week.

The job action was held outside all GVPL branches from 2 pm to 5 pm. Themed "Education and the Public Library", it was aimed at coinciding with the time students arrive after school to use library services for homework and research. The timing paid off, as CUPE 410 members used the opportunity to discuss their issues with an increasingly supportive public.

Susan Lambert, a teacher-librarian and first vice-president of the BC Teachers' Federation, appeared at the Central library branch to bring solidarity greetings from the BCTF.

"Our libraries provide vital services for the education system," she said. "Students rely on them, teachers rely on them, and I can't believe that in this day and age pay equity is still an issue. It's unbelievable that CUPE 410 members have been waiting more than ten years for this."

Lambert said that the BCTF is solidly behind the striking workers and that, as a teacher librarian herself, she could vouch for the importance of library services, which she described as "far-reaching and vital."

CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse, commenting on the day's activities, said that members are solidly behind the local in trying to achieve a fair contract and are ready for full-on strike action. The public's support has made a big difference, he added.

"Public support was overwhelming at every picket line today. We had people honking and telling us to keep up the fight, that they understand our issues and are fully behind us."

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Victoria library workers walk out in first-ever job action

VICTORIA - CUPE 410, which represents Greater Victoria Public Library workers, went on strike this morning, pulling all 250 of its members off the job until 2 p.m. to protest employer inaction on key issues such as pay equity and treatment of auxiliary workers.

The walkout is the first in a series of escalating job actions the union is planning to take in an effort to achieve a fair contract, says CUPE 410 President Ed Seedhouse.

"As I've said before, we are willing to go back to the table any time the employer advises us they have a mandate to discuss our issues," says Seedhouse.

"But so far they have not moved off their position and have no mandate from the city's politicians to address pay equity and auxiliary workers."

Seedhouse added that this is the first time that Victoria library workers have shut down all the city's branches in order to address their workplace concerns.

The job action comes in the wake of yesterday's decision by the Labour Relations Board to dismiss the employer's application to declare a CUPE 410 strike invalid. The LRB ruling noted that the Local had provided the employer with its wage proposal, but the employer chose not to provide its wage proposal to the Union.

Following the library workers' return to work this afternoon, Seedhouse added, the union's strike committee will meet again on Monday to plan further job action.

CUPE 410 represents 250 library workers in the GVPL system at branches in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and View Royal.

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Victoria library workers to issue strike notice on Tuesday

August 31, 2007

VICTORIA - CUPE 410, which represents Greater Victoria Public Library workers, will issue 72-hour strike notice early on Tuesday morning (September 4), local president Ed Seedhouse said today.

The decision was reached after eight months of bargaining passed with no resolution on issues of key importance to the union's membership.

“We are ready to go back to bargaining any time the employer is willing to discuss our key issues,” said Seedhouse.

“But in the final analysis, when the employer refuses to bargain, unions only have one tool-and that's the withdrawal of service.”

Seedhouse added that library workers love the work they do for the public and that the local's members feel badly about the possibility of taking job action.

The strike notice on Tuesday morning would place CUPE 410 in a legal strike position by Friday morning.

CUPE 410 represents 250 library workers in the GVPL system at branches in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and View Royal.

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Library users serve ‘Overdue’ notice on civic politicians

Post cards from the public call for action on pay equity after 10 years of un-kept promises

August 24, 2007 VICTORIA—Municipal councilors from Greater Victoria are being served with overdue slips from local library users.

But it isn’t books that are overdue: it’s an unkept promise, made more than a decade ago by Victoria politicians, for library workers to achieve pay equity with other civic employees doing work of equal value.

The union says that library users have embraced the local’s campaign with enthusiasm.

“We have already delivered 526 signed postcards from members of the public to municipal politicians less than a week after starting the campaign,” says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse. “Things are going really quite well.”

The post cards call on municipal councilors to recognize the value of the services library workers provide and pay them the same rates as other municipal workers.

“Please give the bargaining committee of the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association a mandate to negotiate pay equity,” the cards say.

Last month, the union’s members voted 90 per cent in favour of strike action, if necessary, to achieve a fair collective agreement. Pay equity is one of the local’s top bargaining issues.

CUPE 410 represents 220 library workers in the GVPL system at branches in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and View Royal.

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CUPE 410 members vote 90 per cent in favour of a strike.

July 16. 2007 VICTORIA—Victoria library workers have voted 90 per cent in favour of strike action, if necessary, to achieve a fair collective agreement.

The strike vote, held over the weekend, represents only the second time in the 60-year history of the local union that Victoria library workers have authorized strike action.

"When Library workers vote for a strike, you can be sure that they are being dealt with unfairly indeed," said CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse, adding that the top bargaining priorities for his members are finally achieving pay equity with Victoria civic workers and getting a fair deal for auxiliary workers, including pages.

"Our bargaining committee's first priority will be to use the overwhelming mandate the members have given us to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible," said Seedhouse.

"This vote result should show the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association (GVLRA) that Library workers are very serious. Pay Equity was promised to us for 1996 and is now more than a decade overdue."

CUPE 410 represents 220 library workers in the GVPL system at branches in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, Mechosin and View Royal.

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Pay equity promise ten years overdue, say library workers

VICTORIA July 1, 2007 — Employees of the Greater Victoria Public Library say it’s time the City of Victoria delivered on a more than 10-year-old promise to pay them the same wages as other municipal employees doing comparable work in the Capital Region.

The library workers, members of CUPE 410, today launched a campaign called "Overdue" that calls attention to the unfair wage gap.

"Right now, the clerks who check out your books get two dollars and fifty cents an hour less than the attendants who take your fee in the City parkade below them," says CUPE 410 president Ed Seedhouse. "A Receptionist at Victoria City Hall earns nearly three fifty an hour more."

"Jobs that are comparable should be paid equally. That is what the municipalities promised us starting in 1996, but now that promise is more than 10 years overdue. "

"You wouldn't keep your books overdue for that long. Nor should the municipal politicians leave a promise that long overdue."

Seedhouse says the union is calling on municipal politicians, who control the budget of the GVPL, to finally deliver on that promise.

"People in Victoria love their libraries and appreciate the work that we do,” he said. “So we’re asking them to tell their municipal councils and mayors to negotiate a fair deal with library workers."

They can do that by visiting www.overduepromise.ca."

CUPE 410 represents 220 library workers in the GVPL system at branches in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin and View Royal.

The campaign launch comes as CUPE 410 continues to bargain for a fair contract.

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