Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Toronto Librarians Split from CUPE Local 416 to form own unit.

After a nasty battle, the city's 2,400 librarians have voted overwhelmingly to leave the city's powerful outdoor workers' union.

With about 50 per cent voter turnout, more than three times as many librarians voted to split away from Local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees - which also represents garbage collectors and parks workers - as voted to stay. The final tally was 1,017 in favour of leaving to 287 who were opposed, CUPE Ontario's Brian Atkinson said, calling it "pretty overwhelming."

The library workers have been represented by Local 416 since the union was created after amalgamation in 1997.

Library unit chair Rob Rolfe said "the time had come" for his members to form their own unit. "We're very pleased," he said.

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