All City of Mississauga libraries will be closed Monday as library workers go on strike following a breakdown in negotiations between the city and union representing library workers.
“All City of Mississauga Libraries are closed July 4 until further notice, due to a strike with CUPE 1989,” the city said in a news release issued Sunday evening ahead of a July 4 strike deadline.
The move comes after 96 per cent of CUPE Local 1989 members who attended three separate meetings voted to take strike action, the union said in a statement posted to Facebook earlier this weekend.
“We are skilled workers, and our services are valued and loved by the residents of Mississauga,” the union said in its statement. “We ask only to be treated with respect, and for all our members to be able to provide a decent life for themselves and their families.”
According to the union, 56 per cent of its members are part-time staff who currently enjoy no paid sick time, benefits, bereavement leave or vacation.
The union also says that wages have not kept pace with living costs.
In its own statement, the city said that it has offered concessions as part of the negotiations.
“Since the outset of negotiations, the City’s goal has always been to achieve a collective agreement that is fair and competitive to our employees and our taxpayers,” the city said in its release. “The City offered the Union’s bargaining committee wage increases and benefit improvements, but CUPE 1989 rejected the offer and have opted to strike.”
The city has been in negotiation with the workers since June 12 of last year.
The libraries will be closed until further notice, the city said. During that time, residents are being asked not to drop off materials at the library and said late fees will be waived. However some services and resources will continue to be available online through the library’s website.
