The Core Service Review Public Consultation document was released today. You can read the full report but here are some highlights that are significant for library workers and the library service:
Highlight #1: Public libraries are listed in the top 10 city services (we sit at #8) that are necessary for the city to be liveable and prosperous. (Nothing more to add to that!)
Highlight #2: The library is listed in the top 5 services (we sit at #4) that should be provided by the city. (So NO to privatization and outsourcing).
Highlight #3: The greatest number of participants felt that Toronto should strive to deliver services at a level that is better than most other cities. So hands off our public libraries. TPL is the busiest (and dare I say best). Why would FORD NATION seek to diminish it? We have already achieved what Torontonians want – a world class public library system brought to you by the hard work of Toronto library workers.
No information has been released yet on the results of the survey that TPL conducted as part of the city’s service delivery review.
The union has not received any information yet on buyout packages as reported in the media for some city departments and services. However, if the pattern follows the Toronto Police Services, packages will offered to managers only to ensure that the ranks of the front line workers who deliver the services are protected.
The next three weeks are going to be filled with lots of information and conjecture about what all of this means to the city and its workers. In this same time period, a library board meeting will be held, the service delivery report on the library will go to the Executive Committee at the city, and the 10% 2012 budget reductions will be announced. Over the summer, a user fee service review will also be going on.
Continue to watch this blog for more information or follow me on Twitter @President4948.
Thanks,
Maureen O'Reilly, President, Local 4948
