At the request of the Bargaining Committee of TPLWU Local 4948, the Ontario Ministry of Labour has issued a “no-board” report dated Friday, October 23. This means that the parties will be in a legal strike or lock-out position at 12:01 AM on Monday, November 9.
The “no-board” request follows an overwhelming 86% strike vote mandate from a huge turnout of library union members on October 7-8. Full-time jobs, better career opportunities, more benefits for part-timers and open hours until midnight are all still on the table and far from resolution after over 30 meetings and almost 6 months of bargaining. As in the last three rounds of bargaining since amalgamation, negotiating to a strike deadline is the only way we can put the pressure needed on the Library to bargain a fair settlement on the most important issues.
The Strike Committee is mobilizing area co-ordinators and picket captains to be sure we are fully prepared should a job action be required. We are continuing to build our public campaign. In the meantime, the Union Bargaining Committee will continue to bargain. As always, we will do everything we possibly can to negotiate a fair settlement without a work stoppage.
The major issues in this round of bargaining should have been resolved months ago. Instead, the Employer decided to wait to see if the Union would simply agree to give in to their midnight open hours proposal and other concessions.
We are not interested in negotiating a future for TPL workers based on the San Jose Way, or on any other corporate business models that trample full-time jobs and establish more and more part-time jobs with inferior benefits. TPL cannot continue to be a world-class public library without a well-trained, professional workforce. An acceptable settlement must include more full-time jobs, and better rights and benefits for part-time workers.
There is still time for the new City Librarian to choose a different leadership style, one that engages directly with the Union and its members in a real dialogue on the future direction of TPL. To date, this has not happened. Instead, we are once again being made to negotiate to a strike deadline to get a fair collective agreement.
All members must fill out a form to register for picket duty and receive strike pay in the event of a strike. Sign-up forms are available to download from the blog (top left-hand corner of this blog).
Picket captain training will take the week of November 2-6. Please contact the strike committee at 416-440-7981 or email strike4948@rocketmail.com if you would like to volunteer to be a picket captain, to sign up for picket duty and to register for strike pay.
