Help support a fair contract for Vancouver Public Library workers

generic bookshelf at a library

CUPE 391 members provide diverse library services in neighbourhoods across Vancouver. They help to facilitate access to information, promote literacy, build connections within communities, run outreach activities, provide technology support, plan and support programming and events, and handle administrative duties.

Right now, workers are trying to negotiate a new contract, but the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) doesn’t want to talk about contract changes workers are proposing to make their work lives better.

Instead, they are focused on making two significant and unfair changes to the collective agreement—concessions—that would negatively impact all members.

  1. VPL wants to roll back scheduling protections for regular full-time staff without offering any meaningful protections or improvements in exchange for that significant change. It will affect how the services you rely on are run.
  2. VPL wants to increase the number of hours auxiliary employees have to work to keep their jobs with no guarantee they would be offered more hours. This puts workers at risk of losing their job.

If workers were to accept these concessions it would be a huge step backwards.

What are library workers asking for?

We need VPL to take these concessions off the table. We want the same wage increases other City of Vancouver workers and other library workers in our region have already received, as well as some basic improvements to benefits and working conditions.

We are committed to doing everything possible to reach a deal at the bargaining table and avoid any disruption to library services. Strike action is always a last resort. However, by continuing to insist on concessions, VPL is putting the services library users rely on at risk.

How can you help?

Sign up for updates, to show your support for VPL workers, and so we can keep you up to date on what is happening with bargaining.