Vancouver Librarians on Strike

“This is such an unusual position for library workers to be in, we've never been on strike before, but we've never been in a position where our local issues have been so thoroughly ignored,” said Alex Youngberg, president of CUPE 391, which represents the city's library workers.

Close to 800 librarians made history early yesterday after walking off the job, effectively closing the city's public library system after 77 years of labour peace.

CUPE 391 president Alexandra Youngberg said a stalemate at the bargaining table on issues such as gender-based pay equity forced the largely female workforce to raise pickets outside the Central Library on West Georgia Street.

See "Bargaining for Better Communities" for detailed information.