TORONTO, ON – Members of Local 4948 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 4948) today ratified a new collective agreement with the Toronto Public Library Board (TPLB).
The four-year agreement contains modest annual wage improvements, as well as improvements to address precarious employment at the Toronto Public Library, where more than half of all jobs can currently be described as ‘precarious.’
“We said at the onset that our members wanted and needed a collective agreement that addressed the unique needs of our workforce. Half of our members are precariously employed, and three-quarters are women, and this agreement is a good – albeit small – step in the right direction for them,” said Maureen O’Reilly, President of CUPE 4948.
CUPE 4948 and TPLB reached the agreement early Monday morning, following a marathon round of bargaining over the weekend.
O’Reilly said the new agreement couldn’t have been reached without the “overwhelming” support of CUPE 4948 members and their supporters.
“We took a stand. Our members said clearly that good jobs that support quality public services in the community mattered, not only to them, but to the community as well. That message clearly resonated with the public – particularly library supporters,” she said.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen O’Reilly
CUPE 4948 President
416-440-7981
Kevin Wilson
CUPE Communications
416-821-6641
