CUPE 4948 requests No Board report

Talks stall with Toronto Public Library Board: Union

Negotiators for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4948 requested the Ministry of Labour issue a ‘No Board’ report in its negotiations with the Toronto Public Library.

A No Board report sets into motion a deadline by which a lockout or strike could take place. The request was made following days of unproductive collective bargaining, the union said.

Library workers are calling for a shift to more permanent, full-time jobs.

According to the union, the members are suffering from some of the greatest levels of part-time precarious work in the city and, as a result, library workers have limited access to pensions or benefits.

“Library workers are what make our library system so exceptional,” said CUPE 4948 president Maureen O’Reilly, “but they can only do that when they have good, stable jobs and, right now, over half don’t. It’s hurting our library system and its largely female workforce who come from diverse neighbourhoods across Toronto.”

CUPE 4948 said the Toronto Public Library’s proposals have not addressed the issue of precarious part-time work.

If the report is issued, the parties will meet with the assistance of a provincially-appointed mediator prior to the lockout or strike deadline. The earliest possible date for service disruption would be 17 days from the date the report is issued.

CUPE 4948 represents 2,200 full- and part-time library workers across Toronto.

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