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“Through their solidarity and thanks to incredible support from library users and the labour movement, BCGEU/NUPGE members working for VIRL demanded better — and they got it.” — Joanna Lord, BCGEU Vice-President
Burnaby (22 April 2022) — 7 months after starting bargaining and almost 7 weeks after starting job action, members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) working as librarians for the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) have voted almost 90% in favour of ratifying a new collective agreement.
Library workers ratify new collective agreement
“This has been a challenging round of bargaining, but these members stuck together and achieved the deal they were looking for from the start,” said Joanna Lord, BCGEU Vice-President. “Through their solidarity and thanks to incredible support from library users and the labour movement, BCGEU/NUPGE members working for VIRL demanded better — and they got it.”
On April 11, the bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement with their employer. The tentative agreement was ratified by a strong majority of the bargaining unit on April 19. The VIRL board ratified the agreement the following day. The new 4-year agreement is effective from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2024, and the new terms are retroactive to its start date.
Wage improvements mean getting closer to closing the wage gap
Highlights from the agreement include wage improvements totaling over 12% plus a $500 signing bonus for all active employees. These wage increases are important steps toward closing the wage gap between VIRL librarians and those working for other, comparable regional library systems in the province. BCGEU/NUPGE members working at VIRL also negotiated improved terms for parental leave, workload, and workplace harassment.
“All workers in B.C. deserve respect in their workplace and a wage that keeps pace with the high cost of living in the province,” said Lord. “That’s what these negotiations were about from day one, and that’s what this deal represents for our members."
The collective agreement covers 48 members at 39 VIRL branches.