Librarians in the Cowichan Valley have begun strike action today as they seek a deal that aligns their compensation with other libraries in the province.
Members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) working as librarians for the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) are currently on the picket line at VIRL’s Cowichan branch.
Today, librarians working at Vancouver Island Regional Library are on the picket line in Duncan – asking their employer for a fair and respectful collective agreement. Check out https://t.co/vivz1GGvsN and show your support: https://t.co/pyck2375cJ#respectVIRLlibrarians
— BCGEU (@bcgeu) March 9, 2022
The strike comes after BCGEU filed a strike notice to Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) on February 28th, when its members voted 95% in favour of a strike mandate.
See more: Vancouver Island Regional Library employees vote in favour of strike mandate
The VIRL and BCGEU have been bargaining over the BCGEU Collective agreement since September 2021. On December 31st 2021, the agreement expired.
“To be clear: librarians do not want to picket – they want to be at work serving their communities,” said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president.
“Our members’ demands are fair and reasonable. VIRL has the power to end our job action and restore library services for the people of the Cowichan Valley.”
The picket will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The union is asking visitors to the library to support their job action by joining them on the picket line or refusing to cross it if the branch remains open.
