SASKATOON — The city’s nine public libraries will be closed on Tuesday. Nov. 12, after its workers issued a strike notice as part of their planned job action demanding higher wages and addressing mounting workplace safety concerns.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees 2669 represents about 270 workers under the Saskatoon Public Library, funded by the City of Saskatoon. The union workers have given their employer five days to return to the bargaining table.
CUPE 2669 Communications Coordinator Paige Yellowlees said library workers need salary increases to keep up with the rising cost of living and hire more workers to serve the public and keep themselves safe.
“Library staff and patrons deserve changes that make them feel safe at the library. We’re fighting to have more than one library worker at each service point so we can help serve patrons while staying safe,” said Paige Yellowlees, communications coordinator for CUPE 2669.
“It’s disappointing that the employer is refusing to offer fair wages or make this change that would increase the safety and quality of service for both library workers and patrons alike. We deserve better.”
CUPE Saskatchewan, in an email to SaskToday, said there had been a significant increase in violent incidents in Saskatoon Libraries where workers received verbal and physical abuse, attempted sexual assault and abduction of library staff.
“We have witnessed these incidents become more and more frequent without a corresponding increase in safety measures to address these issues. Library workers are fighting for more safety measures and for the ability to not work alone at any one service point, which is often the case. This makes it hard for library workers and public members to stay safe when there are incidents,” CUPE Saskatchewan said.
The Alice Turner Library, Carlyle King Library, Cliff Wight Library, Francis Morrison Central Library, Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library, J.S. Wood Library, Mayfair Library, and Round Prairie Library are the SPL’s nine locations in the city.
