Powell River Public Library workers, represented by CUPE Local 798, and Powell River Public Library, are set to continue bargaining discussions after significant progress was made over the weekend.
“We are encouraged by the approach the library has taken to find concrete solutions to the longstanding issue of wage fairness for library workers,” stated CUPE Local 798 president Fred Stutt in a media release dated October 25. “We remain hopeful that with this collaborative approach, we will be able to reach a tentative agreement and avoid any job action.”
Negotiations are scheduled to continue later this week with the assistance of a mediator.
Library workers had served a 72-hour strike notice.
According to a previous media release, the union was in a legal strike position as of October 24. However, mediated talks are scheduled to continue.
“We know that residents rely on the important services our members provide at the library, and that taking strike action will have a significant impact on the community,” stated Stutt on October 21. “We are committed to continuing negotiations, and we hope the library will be willing to address our longstanding pay equity concerns with a concrete plan.”
Stutt stated that library workers’ wages start considerably lower than their colleagues at City of Powell River, whose workers perform equivalent work with comparable complexity, responsibility, education and skill requirements.
He added that the union has been raising this issue for more than a decade and that it is looking for the library to implement a job evaluation program similar to the one already in place at the city, which is the main funder of the library.
CUPE 798 members have been without a contract since December 2021, and most recently had three days of mediation with a neutral third-party mediator appointed by the labour relations board, according to the release.
The other outstanding issue is ensuring there is always a fully trained and qualified staff member in charge at the library, who is fairly compensated for this work, the release stated.
CUPE 798 represents about 450 local government and social service workers in the qathet region, including those at the city, qathet Regional District, inclusion Powell River and the library, according to the release.
