Library Workers Vote Friday

MEDIA ADVISORY:

CUPE 391 vote results to be announced at 7pm Friday

[October 18, 2007 09:24 PM] CUPE

VANCOUVER - Vancouver striking library workers represented by CUPE 391 will vote on Friday, October 19, 2007 to accept or reject a tentative agreement reached today. The union bargaining committee is recommending acceptance of the agreement.

If the deal is ratified, library workers could return to work restoring public library services in the city as early as Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

The details of the tentative agreement will not be released until the vote results are known. They are based on mediator Foley's recommendations, and include adjustments negotiated between the two parties over the past week.

CUPE 391 members will be voting from noon until 6pm on Friday at the Maritime Labour Centre at Victoria Drive & Triumph Street in Vancouver.

What: Announcement of CUPE 391 vote results on tentative agreement

Where: Outside CUPE 391 office, 545 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver

Time: 7pm

CUPE 391's 770 members have been on strike since July 26, 2007. This is the first strike in their 77 year history.

Contact: Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

MEETING AND VOTE TOMORROW

Bargaining Committee wrote this around lunchtime:

There will be a meeting and vote on the proposed Memorandum of Agreement tomorrow at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street (the same place we had our benefit concert). Please note that parking is limited and people are encouraged to take transit. The meeting will be from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Voting will take place thereafter until 6pm.

The information package will only be available at the meeting.

Travel, meeting and voting time will count towards approx. 2 hours picket duty. However, to complete a 4 hour shift, two hours will have to be covered at one of the picket sites. Please note that attendance only at this meeting will NOT count as an automatic four hour shift like the last meeting. If you start or end your shift there you can sign in/out at the Centre. Otherwise, sign in and out at your picket location. Picketing will be at Central from 7-5 and Britannia from 8-4. Coffee and pizza will be provided at both sites around 1:00.

Your pay cheques will be available for pick up at the Centre from 10:00 - 4:00.

Library and union confirm tentative deal; libraries open Wednesday at earliest

Thursday, October 18 - 12:47:47 PM News1130 Staff

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Public Library and CUPE Local 391 have confirmed a tentative agreement to end the strike by Vancouver library workers. The union says the deal includes modifications to mediator Brian Foley's recommendations presented on October 5th.

The media blackout in place since Tuesday will continue until the library's 770 members vote Friday on the agreement. The Library Board will vote if the membership of CUPE 391 ratifies the agreement. If both parties ratify, library staff will return to work on Monday and library branches will be open to the public on Wednesday at the earliest.

Local 391 is the last of three CUPE locals to settle with the city. Inside and outside workers are already back on the job.