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TORONTO Toronto public libraries should re-open on Sundays starting next week, says the Toronto Civic Employees Union following an arbitrator’s ruling that the closings violated their collective agreement.
The library board acted hastily when they decided to close libraries as part of the City’s cost containment initiative, said Brian Cochrane, president of CUPE 416. The union grieved the decision because it violated a condition of the collective agreement that prohibits reductions in hours, which are set months in advance.
This is a great example of the way that our collective agreement can serve not only the interests of City workers but also the interests of the wider community, Cochrane said. Our community needs its libraries.
The library board should consult its staff, through their union, about effective ways to save money rather than making hasty decisions that end up in costly arbitration, he said.
In the meantime, the board should decide at its meeting tonight to immediately resume Sunday openings and give our community access to their public libraries.
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For more information, contact:
Brian Cochrane, President, CUPE 416, 416-562-2543
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-616-6142
