Saskatoon library workers vote in favour of new contract

Workers at the Saskatoon Public Library have voted in favour of a new collective agreement, after an extended rift over wages and safety concerns, and several days of strike action.

CUPE 2669, the union representing 270 city library workers, said in a news release on Tuesday that its members voted 80 per cent in favour of the new agreement, “which includes new provisions to increase wages and make libraries safer.”

“This new agreement is a step in the right direction to make libraries safe and welcoming environments for staff and members of the public,” said Paige Yellowlees, communications coordinator for CUPE 2669.

A 2022 CUPE survey of library workers, primarily in Saskatoon and Regina, found that half of them had experienced violence while on the job.

One point of contention in negotiations between the union and the library managers was the issue of staff working alone at service points, especially in the city’s large and busy downtown library.

• Get the CTV News app for Saskatchewan breaking news alerts and top stories 

According to CUPE, the new contract includes improved protections against working alone, and establishes a joint safety advisory committee to “study and recommend best health and safety practices on an ongoing basis.”

The new contract also provides “significant” wage increases to circulation associates — formerly called pages — to bring them closer in line with the rates of staff at the Regina Public Library.

The circulation associates, responsible for shelving, pulling and packing books for shipment around the city, also got improvements to their sick leave, CUPE says.

In a statement to CTV News, library CEO Carol Shepstone said she was “pleased” to learn the contract had passed the vote.

“This new contract recognizes the invaluable role that SPL’s employees play in delivering critical library services throughout our community. It fairly addresses issues around safety and compensation, and we’re excited to move forward together and continue building a strong and vibrant public library system for Saskatoon,” Shepstone said.