What has the Library Division Executive (LDX) Done on Your Behalf to Get Our Message Out?
• A series of flyers have been produced and distributed to the membership. This type of communication will be ongoing (You should know that the LDX has paid for the production of these flyers on their own and that they have been written by your fellow library representatives).
•An email has been created so we can answer your questions.
• Workplace visits are taking place every day across the city during lunch hours. These arrangements are being made through the local steward and regional sub-unit chairs. (Unfortunately we have not advertised these meetings on the blog or through other means because we do not want to create an environment which is not conducive to library workers discussing the issue freely and without confrontation. Despite these best efforts, one such meeting deteriorated when the LDX Representatives were aggressively confronted by a library worker who is currently supported by the Outside Division leadership of 416).
• Library members have volunteered to make phone calls to their colleagues on behalf of the LDX. Other library workers have also come forward to offer their assistance in other ways too.
• Off site email broadcast messages have been sent out to the sub-unit vice chairs and the stewards to keep them informed. (The Outside Division leadership of 416 has entered into a deal with library management to use Groupwise for their political campaign despite eleven years of the employer not giving their own library union representatives the same access. The employer continues to insist “they don’t want to get involved”).
• LDX members and their representatives attended the stewards meeting and the other 416 information meetings.
• The LDX pushed for the mediation meeting that CUPE requires in their process for granting a separate local union charter. (The Outside Division leadership of 416 took almost three months to honour the request).
• The issue has been discussed at every monthly unit meeting since December. (The Outside Division leadership of 416 have attended the January and February unit meetings as well).
• The LDX has organized a library steward meeting in February to share information.
• The LDX has also held meetings of the library vice-chairs to keep them informed.
• An information session for library workers will be held on March 4th.
The LDX will continue to do all they can to get the information out to library workers so that they can make the most informed decision. A vote for a library worker’s local is a vote for all of us.
