CUPE 561 Voices Concern Over New Management Structure

Members of CUPE Local 561 have voiced concerns over planned changes to the management structure of Coquitlam Public Library. The library director has argued that the addition of six new managerial positions is necessary in order to engage in more outreach and more technology-oriented services. The union is concerned with the amount of money that will be spent on these positions instead of being spent on books and other library resources.

New Contract for Castlegar Library Workers

Library workers at Castlegar & District Public Library have a new four-year contract retroactive to January 2015 that includes wage increases and improved benefits. The library workers are represented by CUPE 2262.

New Contract for Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library Workers

Workers at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library System in British Columbia have ratified a new three-year contract that includes wage increases. The workers are represented by BC Government and Service Employees' Union.

Vancouver Island Regional Library Workers Reach Tentative Agreement

Workers at Vancouver Island Regional Library have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The workers, represented by CUPE Local 401, had voted in favor of strike action back in December if an agreement could not be reached. However, strike action was not necessary after a mediator became involved in the bargaining sessions. The contract has yet to be ratified.

Strike Vote at Vancouver Island Regional Library

Workers at Vancouver Island Regional Library voted in favor of strike action earlier this week, after failing to reach an agreement with the library administration on their new contract. The workers are represented by CUPE Local 401.

New Contract for Powell River Library Workers

Workers at Powell River Public Library in British Columbia have a new five-year contract, retroactive to 2013. The contract includes wage increases and improved benefits. The library workers are represented by CUPE Local 798.

The union president stated:

It makes such a difference when both parties negotiate maturely and [respectfully]. In this case, we both had priorities and issues that we wanted to negotiate and that we did negotiate. When we work together like this the results benefit everybody, especially the community.

Langley Teacher's Association Speaks at University of Alberta

Recently representatives from the Langley Teacher's Association (LTA), a branch of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation, gave a presentation at the University of Alberta's School of Library and Information Studies. The president of LTA and a teacher librarian spoke on the involvement of the union with issues of censorship and library staffing. For more details, see the Winter 2015 issue of Local Link.

Strike at Capilano University

Librarians and other faculty at Capilano University are on strike, cancelling classes days before final exams are set to begin. The Capilano University Faculty Union and university administration have been in negotiations since February.

Kitimat Public Library Workers Wont' Cross Picket Line

Kitimat Public Library was closed yesterday as library employees, members of CUPE, opted not to cross the picket line of striking Unifor workers outside the library. Unifor represents the District of Kitimat's municipal workers, who have been on strike since February.

UNBC Faculty on Strike

Following last month's strike vote, faculty at the University of British Columbia are now on the picket lines. The university's faculty association unionized less than a year ago, and have been engaged in contract negotiations since then. At issue are faculty salaries, which are significantly less than at other comparable institutions. More details can be found on the UNBC Faculty Association website.

Photo courtesy of UNBC Faculty Association

Strike Vote at UNBC

The University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association voted in favor of a strike earlier this month amid ongoing negotiations with university administration. The faculty association became unionized less than a year ago.

BC Teachers' Strike Ends

Teachers in British Columbia have voted to accept a new collective agreement, ending the strike that began at the end of the last school year. School will be back in session across the province on Monday.

New Collective Agreement for Sechelt Public Library Workers

Workers at Sechelt Public Library in British Columbia have a new four-year collective agreement that grants the library workers wage increases and better benefits. The workers are members of CUPE 391.

BC Teachers' Strike Continues

School was cancelled for the second week in a row this week across the province of British Columbia due to strike action by the BC Teachers' Federation. Teachers have been on strike since June. Members of the teachers' federation voted 99.4% in favor of binding arbitration, a request that has been refused by the government. For more information on the strike, visit the BC Teachers' Federation website.

New Collective Agreement for Gibsons & District Public Library

Workers at Gibsons and District Public Library, members of CUPE 391, have a new four-year collective agreement. The agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2014.

Simon Fraser University Faculty Unionize

Librarians and other faculty members of the Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia have voted to become a certified union. The Faculty Association will now begin negotiations for their first collective agreement with the university administration.

New Contracts for Okanagan Regional Library Workers

Employees at the Okanagan Regional Library who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees have a new four-year contract, while other employees who are represented by the Professional Employees Association have a new three-year contract. Both contracts include wage increases and improvements to benefits.

New Contract for Nelson Library Workers

Staff at Nelson Public Library, members of CUPE Local 339, have ratified a new contract with the city after nearly a year and a half of negotiations. The contract includes retroactive pay increases and improved benefits.

University of Victoria Faculty Form Union

After a successful union drive, librarians and faculty at the University of Victoria have voted in favour of forming a union. First step for the newly formed union will be to negotiate a contract with the university administration.

University of Victoria Union Drive Update

Sixty-three percent of professors and librarians signed union cards during the recent union drive at the University of Victoria, surpassing the required percent of signatures needed for the faculty association to apply for certification with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board. A vote on the formation of the new faculty union will soon be taking place.