Supervisors Removed from Saskatoon Library Union

Workers in supervisory positions at Saskatoon Public Library will no longer be a part of CUPE Local 2669, the union that represents the library's workers. The library's administration is taking advantage of the Saskatchewan Employment Act, which allows supervisors to be excluded from joining bargaining units. The CEO of Saskatoon Public Library has stated that the workers in these supervisory positions will be able to form their own bargaining unit, separate from that representing the other library workers.

Deal Reached at Saskatchewan Public Schools

Support staff at Saskatchewan's South East Cornerstone Public School Division have reached a tentative deal with the school's administration, ending strike action that began in April.

Strike at Saskatchewan Public Schools

Library workers are among the support staff set to go on strike today at the South East Cornerstone Public School Division in southeast Saskatchewan. Support staff at the school are members of Service Employees International Union.

South East Cornerstone Public School Division

South East Cornerstone Public School Division

South East Cornerstone Public School Division

Right to Strike Upheld by Supreme Court of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that legislation in Saskatchewan that barred public service employees from striking is unconstitutional. The president of the Canadian Labour Congress stated:

Today's decision levels the playing field for workers by placing checks on the power of governments, as employers, to legislate unfair essential services arrangements that tip the scales in management's favour. 

Gains for Saskatoon Library Workers

Although Saskatoon Public Library workers reached an agreement this week and will receive retroactive payments to cover pay increases dating back to 2010, bargaining will resume because the agreement only covers the period ending March 31, 2013.

Read-In at Saskatoon City Hall

As previously noted on this blog, library staff at Saskatoon Public Library have been without a contract since 2010. Staff, members of CUPE 2669, held a read-in at City Hall on April 8 in order to bring attention to their situation. The union is asking for a 15% wage increase in order to bring wages in line with workers in other libraries across the province, as well other city employees.

Saskatoon Library workers push for negotiations

Library workers with the Saskatoon Public Library are still pushing the city to resume contract talks, which have stalled.  The workers have been without a contract for over two years.  About 20 of the workers attended a city council meeting this week to force the issue.

Rally in Saskatoon

Library workers with the Saskatoon Public Library recently held a rally to draw attention to the fact that they have been without a collective agreement since 2010.  The workers, represented by CUPE, have been trying to meet with management but recently the two sides have been unable to agree to a meeting date.  And so it continues...

Saskatoon Public Library workers earning less than minimum wage

Workers at the Saskatoon Public Library have been without a collective agreement for so long that the lowest-paid members of the bargaining unit will be earning less than minimum wage when new wage legislation set by the province of Saskatchewan comes into effect in December.  The union (CUPE Local 2669) has been in strike position since the summer but has yet to take action.

Information picket in Saskatoon

Library workers at the Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) Public Library recently held an information picket, accusing library administration of hoarding funds and refusing to negotiate.  The picket is the latest in a series of increasing job actions in Saskatoon, coming after a similar series of job actions down the road at the Regina Public Library.

First Regina, now Saskatoon

Just when library workers in Regina, Saskatchewan come to an agreement with management, workers at the Saskatoon Public Library have voted for a strike mandate.  Like their counterparts down the road in Regina, the Saskatoon workers are represented by CUPE and have been without a contract for over two years.  The union says that job actions are not imminent but it is likely that the union will use escalating tactics, as seen in recent job actions in Regina and the Okanagan, BC.

Regina Library workers accept deal

It looks like the dispute in Regina has come to an end with library workers organized with CUPE accepting a deal with management.  No word yet on details, though.  Be that as it may, congratulations to the RPL workers for a successful campaign!

Tentative agreement in Regina

Word out of Saskatchewan is that there is a tentative agreement in place between workers at the Regina Public Library and the library administration.  This after several job actions undertaken by the CUPE workers who had gone two years without a contract in place.  The news comes from library administration and there has not yet been any word from CUPE.  We'll see if the workers are as optimistic as management soon enough, I suppose.

Regina Public Library negotiations collapse

The Board of the Regina Public Library has failed to present a new offer in light of CUPE concerns and talks between the Board and CUPE have collapsed.  The workers are in a strike position but have endeavored to limit the impact of any job actions on the public, stating that the conflict is with the employer.  They have had rallies and have refused to collect late fees on library material as part of their struggle, but indicate that they may need to expand their actions soon.

Regina library workers refuse late fees

As part of on-going job action at Regina Public Library, CUPE workers have not been collecting late fees from library users in an effort to avoid hurting the public in their fight against management.  From the article:

"Our thoughts are that we don't want to negatively affect our patrons, but we still want to send the message that we are continuing to do job action to try and get the library board back to the table."

Regina Public Library workers walk off the job

Regina Public Library workers represented by CUPE walked off the job yesterday afternoon, temporarily closing several branches of the library system.  While the workers are in a strike position, this was not the start of an indefinite strike but rather a first job action to flex their collective muscle in the face of intransigent city negotiators.  The workers returned to work this morning but this will likely not be the end of the stand-off.

Strike notice given by Regina library workers

Workers in the Regina Public Library system (who are represented by CUPE) have officially given notice to strike and were in a position to take job action as of yesterday (May 27).  The workers have not had a new collective agreement in over two years and have been without wage increases since 2009.  No word yet on official job actions, so stay tuned!

Regina Public Library workers may strike

Just when you thought that labor peace had come to Canadian libraries, workers at the Regina Public Library have voted for a strike mandate.  The workers are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and passed the vote with a 82% majority.  The issues at stake are longer work hours on Sundays with less pay and less benefits for new and part-time employees.