Concordia University Library employees vote in favor of strike mandate

Montreal, QC - Members of the Concordia University Library Employees Union (CSN)(CULEU), represented by the Fédération des employées et employés de services publics (FEESP-CSN), voted November 29th in favor of a strike mandate after 18 months of negotiations. CULEU's President has stated that Concordia's "insistence on severely restricting advancement possibilities for new employees" has been a sticking point since the beginning of the year. This has compounded frustrations as the university is refusing to even discuss another topic until this issue is settled.

The 17th bargaining session was scheduled to begin today, Dec. 6th, and will be attended by a conciliator from the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS). The union is hopeful that the conciliator's presence will move talks forward.

Along with the mandate, CULEU has also set up a strike fund to support workers should a work stoppage be called.

Faculty union demands refused in Ontario -- possible strike

Management has put forward its final offer in negotiations with the union representing faculty in 24 Ontario colleges.  The union charges management with "misinformation" and "double-speak" in their communications with the college community and public.

From the union:
https://opseu.org/news/college-employer-councils-latest-bulletin-more-misinformation-and-double-speak-caat

From management:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ontario-colleges-union-offer-rejected-1.4354340

Ontario College Union Calls for September Strike Vote

The union representing academic staff at Ontario’s public colleges says it has made a request for a strike vote to be held after the start of classes next month.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which is responsible for scheduling the vote, for a date in the second week of September....

article by Kerri Breen

http://globalnews.ca/news/3649312/ontario-college-faculty-union-calls-for-strike-vote-in-september/

Christmas Day 2016 — Six months on strike in Ontario

Meet the defiant library workers waging one of the region's longest strikes ever

by Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star

“…Wightman celebrated her 50th birthday on the picket line. Someone else celebrated a wedding anniversary; her husband joined her. At least one member lost her mother. Another lost an aunt.

The strike has been one of the toughest things many of these people have ever done.

Neumiller, who has two young children, pickets three times as many hours as she works — for less pay. One woman collapsed from heat stroke last summer. Now, ‘it’s pretty flippin’ cold out there,’ said Johnson. They all got glove warmers last week.”

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/jarvis-meet-the-defiant-library-workers-waging-one-of-the-regions-longest-strikes-ever

Collective self-governance at University of Manitoba -- a union issue, Canada

Beyond Bread and Butter
by Jen Hedler Phillis, Jacobin Magazine

When we think of strikes, we usually think of disputes over wages and benefits. Strikes make the case that it’s easier for bosses to pay workers more than to run a company without them.

But unions often fight for more than money. Workers can walk off the job to demand new rights at work, fighting for control over their working conditions.

The recent strike at University of Manitoba focused on these issues. At the end of negotiations, the provincial government intervened, demanding both parties sign a one-year contract with no wage increase. The University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA), which represents 1,200 full-time faculty and librarians, filed an unfair labor practice complaint.

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/12/university-manitoba-strike-union-umfa-bargaining/
University of Manitoba Faculty Association website: http://www.umfa.ca

Back to bargaining for Cape Breton University, Canada

Back to bargaining for Cape Breton University, faculty

Layoff clause is the key issue for the university's faculty association

By George Mortimer

Cape Breton University and the faculty association representing about 150 members are working to avoid a potential strike by heading back to the bargaining table next week.

The faculty association has been in a legal strike or lockout position since Monday following the filing of a report by conciliator Peter Lloyd and the expiration of a 14-day cooling-off period.

The association represents a variety of staff including librarians, research chairs and professors, among others.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cape-breton-university-faculty-try-to-avoid-strike-1.3914311

Cape Breton University Faculty Association website: http://www.cbufa.ca/news2/

Need inspiration for union activism for the upcoming era of Trump and company?

Precarity Monster 02/02/2016 — give 4-minutes to watch this video from Toronto Public Library Workers, CUPE Local 4948

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf2FTAUzK68

How Much Are Toronto’s Librarians Worth?

Union president Maureen O'Reilly says the time has come for the city to treat its library workers properly.

by Tannara Yelland  

http://torontoist.com/2016/03/library-workers-union-calls-out-precarious-work-austerity-budgets/

On strike since June 25 - Essex County Library - CUPE

The library strike in Essex County continues after contract negotiations once again fell apart. 

Officials from the Essex County Library Board issued a statement Wednesday night, saying they spent another two days talking with CUPE Local 2974, but those discussions failed...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/library-contract-talks-1.3762731

Tentative Agreement Reached for Mississauga Library Workers

A tentative agreement has been reached between CUPE Local 1989, the union representing library workers in Mississauga, and the city. Details of the agreement won't be available until it is ratified. The workers have been on strike since July 4.

CUPE Shows Support for Striking Library Workers in Ontario

Striking library workers in Ontario received support from the provincial and national levels of the Canadian Union of Public Employees this week. CUPE officials attended a rally in support of workers at the Essex County Library system, who are members of CUPE Local 2974, as well as a solidarity barbecue for workers at Mississauga Library System, members of CUPE Local 1989. The president of CUPE Local 1989 said: 

"Knowing we have such tremendous support from our community allies and from CUPE Ontario and CUPE National is nothing short of amazing for us."

Essex library workers have been on strike since June 25. Workers from Mississauga began striking on July 4.

Mississauga Library Workers on Strike

Library workers in Mississauga, ON are on strike, closing all 18 library branches. The workers are represented by CUPE Local 1989.

Strike Vote in Mississauga

Library workers in Mississauga have voted in favor of strike action and may be on the picket lines July 4. The workers, members of CUPE Local 1989, have cited low wages and the precarious nature of many library positions as issues needing to be addressed in the collective agreement currently under negotiation.

Essex County Library Workers on Strike

Workers at Essex County Library in Ontario have been on strike since Saturday, June 25. At issue for the workers are proposed changes to policies related to short-term disability and sick leave. The library system has 14 library branches and 58 workers who are represented by CUPE Local 2974. According to the union unit chair:

"Management and the county created a phantom issue to push workers out on the picket line – sick time is not a problem at our workplace and the employer and the county know this and have acknowledged it."

New Contract for Sudbury Library Workers

Library workers in Sudbury, Ontario are among the city's inside and outside workers who have ratified a new three-year contract after bringing in a provincial conciliator. The workers are represented by CUPE Local 4705.

Plans to Close 54 Newfoundland Libraries Suspended

Dale Kirby, education minister of Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced that the planned closure of 54 library branches in that province has been suspended until an external review is completed. According to Kirby, public concern over the plans to close rural library branches and lay off library employees has prompted the suspension. CUPE Local 2329, the union representing Newfoundland's public library workers, has held information pickets, ran TV ads, and encouraged members of the community to make their opposition to the planned closures heard.

Information Pickets at Newfoundland Libraries

Library workers in Newfoundland held information pickets across the province yesterday in order to make their communities aware of upcoming planned location closures. Fifty-four libraries in Newfoundland are set to close over the next two years, resulting in the loss of sixty jobs. The library workers are represented by CUPE Local 2329.

Pay Equity for New Brunswick School Library Workers

School library workers, educational assistants, administrative assistants, and intervention workers in the New Brunswick education system will be receiving pay equity increases after an evaluation found that these female-dominated positions had lower salaries in comparison to other positions. The workers, represented by CUPE Local 2745, will receive back pay for the past four years and additional increases over the next six years.

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.

Concerns over Lay-Offs at University of Manitoba Libraries

The union representing library workers at the University of Manitoba has expressed concern after a quarter of the library's staff have been let go since the beginning of the year. According to the union president, this reduction in staff will make it difficult for the library to continue to serve their community during the upcoming academic year. The university president has argued that the increasingly electronic nature of library services has lessened the need for librarians. The library workers are represented by the Association of Employees Supporting Education Services.