Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, public libraries returned to regular hours November 28 after the employees’ union accepted a tentative agreement two days earlier, ending intermittent strikes over pay equity that began September 25.
The agreement gives library workers 4% increases for 2001 and 2002, and a 3% increase for 2003, surpassing the 3% yearly increases negotiated for other city workers. Both sides also agreed to a joint study comparing salaries for library jobs to those of other city positions, the Saskatoon Star Phoenix reported November 27.
Although 70% of union members voted in favor of the agreement, some expressed disappointment in the terms covering library pages, the lowest-paid workers, who won’t receive many of the benefits given other union members.
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2669 President Gwen Thomson said, “We’ve achieved a document that should get us closer to pay equity, but we’re not there yet.”
Posted December 9, 2002.