The libraries in our area are preparing for a strike. Shortly after BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents the librarians, issued a 72-hour strike notice last Wednesday, the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) made a new offer to its librarians. This was rejected and the union responded with a counteroffer.
Their collective agreement with the VIRL expired 15 months ago.
BCGEU President Stephanie Smith said, “Unless the employer comes back with a serious offer, pickets will be up at VIRL branches starting Wednesday, March 9.”
Her press release did not state how many, or which branches will be involved, but indicated this would be the beginning of an ‘escalated job action.’
In a joint letter, the 46 librarians who voted in favour of job action stated “Our wages are not aligned with the cost of living in our communities, yet the VIRL budget indicates a surplus for BCGEU staff. Given VIRL’s recent decisions to build and renovate branches, and to hire multiple non-union management positions, we believe VIRL is able to invest in its librarians, by allocating some of that BCGEU surplus for reasonable wage increases.”
In a previous interview, Smith explained, “We’re seeing 40 year highs in rates of inflation. And we just learned that the bank of Canada is going to be increasing interest rates and, and our members are falling behind when it comes to cost of living and MLA’s have their wage increases tied through legislation to protect inflation and we believe that all working people should have the same.”
“Over the last two years, the pandemic has been very, very challenging for many working people. We represent thousands of BCG members who remained right on the front lines, providing vital services for communities and people sometimes don’t react well to additional stresses. We’ve seen lots of incidences of people reacting very strongly to mask mandates, for example, or being asked to socially distance.”
The librarians wrote, “VIRL management has refused to agree to many important proposals – including solutions to workplace violence and mental health impacts – without offering alternative solutions.”
The signatories to this letter are also Vancouver Island Regional Library’s contacts for its various branches. Joëlle Samson is the manager, Arija Fisher the Adult Customer Service Librarian and Angela Gunther is Children and Youth Customer Service Librarian for the branches in Campbell River, Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis, Quadra Island and Cortes Island.
Immediately to the south of us, Jessica Humphries and Gillian Connors are listed as the librarians in Courtenay, Cumberland and Hornby Island, Natalie Catto is Comox and the manager for all these branches is Greg Gulas.
The list of VIRL contacts who signed the letter stretches from Masset, in Haida Gwaii, south to Sooke and Sidney-North Saanich.
(Click here to access a map of VIRL Branches)
Six of the 38 trustees receiving this letter are from the Strathcona Regional District. Brenda Leigh is listed as the district’s representative and Colleen Evans represents Campbell River. There are also trustees from Sayward, Tahsis, Gold River and Zeballos.
On Friday VIRL issued a press release stating, “It is regrettable that an agreement has not yet been achieved. VIRL remains focused on the mediation process. The latest VIRL proposal included two term options, each featuring compensation increases beyond those previously tabled, and an agreement would have included the numerous non-monetary provisions recently bargained.”
This article was originally published on March 7 and an editor’s note added on March 9, 2022.
Top photo credit: Strike by Magnus Hagdorn via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)
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