Library_strike

Jeff Green | Aug 04, 2005

Feature article August 4, 2005

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Library strike averted

by Jeff Green

Late last week negotiators representing 93 unionised employees with Kingston Frontenac Public Library and library management reached a tentative agreement, averting a strike that would have paralysed the 17 branches of the urban-rural library service.

Negotiations were more hard fought this time than in previous rounds of bargaining in 1999 and 2002, with working conditions being difficult for the two sides to work out. The wage package, as predicted by Local President Nancy Mohan, was quickly settled once the working condition sticking points were resolved late last Thursday night, after three days of mediated talks.

Barbara Love, acting Chief Librarian, said, Were just very pleased that a strike has been averted.

Nancy Mohan, speaking for the librarians, said, We are very pleased to reach an agreement without a strike. Our bargaining unit and our employer worked very hard to reach a deal so library services would not be disrupted.

Union members are scheduled to vote on the deal on August 12, and if they accept the deal, it will be ratified later this month by the Library Board, which is made up of appointees from both the City of Kingston and the County of Frontenac.

While both sides are pleased with the results of the negotiations, the intense nature of the bargaining and the publicity surrounding the negotiations will require some effort on both sides in order to heal a now damaged labour-management relationship.