If you’re visiting a library in North and Central Vancouver Island, Sidney, North Saanich, Cortes Island or Quadra Island this week, you may experience service delivery delays as workers begin to strike.
On Monday, February 28th, the BC General Employees’ Union Local 702 (BCGEU) filed a strike notice to Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL), after its members voted 95% in favour of a strike mandate.
The VIRL and BCGEU have been bargaining over the BCGEU Collective agreement since September 2021. On December 31st 2021, the agreement expired.
According to a release, job action, including primary, secondary or rotational picketing at VIRL locations, may start as early as 8am on Thursday, March 3rd.
The VIRL is the fourth-largest library system in British Columbia, serving more than 430,000 people on Vancouver Island.
BCGEU Local 702 represents 42 full-time employees, representing 12% of VIRL’s permanent workforce. The employees consist of professional librarians and colleagues who work at 20 of 39 branches and in Informational Technology, Collections and Support Services divisions.
VIRL’s CUPE Local 401 employees represent 55% of VIRL’s permanent workforce and, according to the release, they will be honouring any BCGEU picket lines.
VIRL expects service delivery to be impacted by the strike job action.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and commit to continuing constructive efforts towards bargaining resolution with our valued colleagues,” VIRL said in a statement.
