Since our campaign launch at the Pilot Tavern on September 23rd, we have been continuing to build our People Make Libraries Work campaign in support of good jobs for all library workers and quality public library service. More and more members have been getting actively involved in mobilizing around the campaign. Here is a sample of what we’ve done so far:Flyers and bookmarks distributed to all branches: Campaign materials, including flyers and bookmarks have been distributed to all stewards with instructions about how to use the materials. Members are distributing the materials to patrons and asking supporters to write and call the City Librarian, Chair of the Library Board and their local city councillors, urging the Library to negotiate a fair settlement with our union.
Action Committee in place: Members have started organizing branch visits and information pickets to distribute our campaign materials as widely as possible to the public. This mobilization is key to building our relationship with the public as our campaign heats up over the coming weeks.
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche action on October 3rd: The Action Committee held an information picket during Nuit Blanche outside the Toronto Reference Library. The information was well received! Many people stopped to talk and went away with info about how to support the campaign.
Members wore their “People Make Libraries Work” buttons on October 15th to demonstrate solidarity: To send a message that we are united in our campaign for good jobs for all library workers and quality public library services, members wore their buttons. Many patrons asked questions about the buttons, prompting an important exchange between us and the library users who value our services.
Facebook group still growing with close to 300 supporters to date: Some members have started a Facebook group as a show of public support for the campaign. If you’re on Facebook, you can search for the group “People Make Libraries Work – Friends and Supporters” and invite your friends to join.
Strike mandate: On October 7th and 8th, nearly 1000 members turned out to vote, giving the bargaining committee an 86% strike mandate. Throughout the strike vote we had many discussions with members, including full-time, part-time and pages, about the need for full-time jobs, equality for part-timers and our concerns about the employer’s proposal to extend hours to midnight. Many members shared their frustrations about RFID machines not working, worrisome neglect of special collections, roving, the decline of reference desks and other trends in the field of public libraries that have been associated with the “San Jose Way.”
Media coverage in the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and Globe and Mail: The bargaining committee put out a press release after the successful strike vote and Maureen O’Reilly, Chair of the Bargaining Committee conducted interviews with reporters, yielding some good coverage in the major media.
What you can do to build solidarity – In the coming weeks, we will be continuing to build our campaign and mobilizing to get the message out to as many people as possible. You are urged to get more involved. Here’s a sample of what you can do:
• Sign up for picket duty and volunteer to be a picket captain. Forms can be found on the library workers’ blog at http://libraryworkersunion.blogspot.com or you can contact the Strike Committee (see below for contact information)
• Participate in another “Button Day” to show your solidarity when your steward gives the word. You can also check the library workers’ blog for Button Day announcements.
• Ask your steward to organize a meeting at your branch to discuss how you can use the materials to most effectively get the message out to the public. Invite a member of the Strike Committee and an Action Committee organizer by contacting the Strike Committee (see below for contact information)
• Organize a delegation of members to visit your local City Councillor. Find out the name of your councillor by visiting: http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp
• Continue to ask supporters to write to Jane Pyper, City Librarian, and to Matthew Church, Chair of the Library Board, and to contact their City Councillors to urge the Library Board to negotiate a fair deal for Local 4948.
If you have ideas about other campaign actions and want to get involved, please contact:
The Strike Committee at:
416-440-7981 or strike4948@rocketmail.com
The Bargaining Committee at:
Please continue to check the Library Workers’ blog for updates at
