The Library Division Executive has received many complaints from library members about voting locations for the March 10 vote to form a new CUPE library workers local.
All voting dates, times and locations were chosen by CUPE National. CUPE National is responsible for conducting the vote.
The Library Division Executive urged CUPE National to schedule all polls in large libraries, including TRL, NYCL and large branches in the West and East. This would have provided maximum voter accessibility, and would have allowed all library workers to vote.
President Ferguson and the 416 Executive told CUPE National that they were opposed to any voting locations in libraries. Their position would decrease voter turnout, and open another avenue for them to challenge the validity of a “yes” vote. President Ferguson has already told us he intends to protest any “yes” vote by library workers.
The Library Division Executive supports our library members who have complained about the unfairness of less accessible vote locations, including the exclusion of TRL. TRL is our largest work location, it is located on two subway lines, and it is the most accessible location for the largest number of our members in the City of Toronto.
We do not know why CUPE National, who told us they wanted a large and truly representative voter turnout, has chosen the current list of voting locations. This decision, which will decrease voter turnout, undermines library workers’ right to choose a new library workers local under the CUPE National Constitution.
To help our members to overcome these barriers to voting, on February 26/09 the Library Division Executive sent a letter to Jane Pyper, City Librarian. This letter is a request for the granting of sufficient time for each library union member to vote during working time (see attached letter).
The right of each library union member to vote (at an easily accessible and convenient polling location) is at the heart of our union democracy. The denial of this basic right (in this case by President Ferguson, and the 416 Executive’s “no” campaign) is a denial of library workers’ right to choose under Article 3.8 of the CUPE Constitution.
On March 10, we urge you to vote “YES” in support of your elected Library Division Executive and Vice-Chairs’ unanimous recommendation (by a 18-0 margin) to form a new CUPE Toronto public library workers local.
A strong “YES” vote is an investment in our own collective future, and it will open the door at last to getting started on library collective bargaining.
From Your Library Division Executive and Vice Chairs
