Primary Issue is Pay Equity. Vancouver Mischaracterizes Negotiations with Library Workers

City Manager Judy Rogers’ letter to exempt staff that was issued to media late Monday, August 13, 2007 is a complete mischaracterization of what happened during the most recent negotiations between the City of Vancouver and CUPE 15, Library Workers CUPE 391 and CUPE 1004. Look HERE for inaccuracies.

The problem in Vancouver is that the city negotiators, along with their GVRD Labour Relations Bureau negotiators, categorically REFUSE to address the issues that have been identified as important by their civic and library workers.

CUPE 391 (Vancouver’s 800 library workers)

On strike since: Thursday, July 26, 2007

Primary issue is pay equity. VLP librarians are paid $7 an hour less than librarians in larger Ontario cities who have addressed pay equity. Other important issues include improvements for part-time & auxiliary workers, benefit improvements & job security - on heels of closure of Bindery.

The Bargaining Committee knows that the members on the lines are craving ways to involve the public who support us and so a petition is being drafted and there are plans for the production of buttons and bumper stickers to give our supporters. We are also working on some handouts for the public that will describe our perspectives on our key issues.