Library workers across Toronto were off the job on Monday after failing to reach a labour agreement over the weekend.
About 2,400 workers from 98 library branches went on strike after the city and CUPE Local 4948 failed to agree to a contract, despite extending a strike deadline several times.
"Despite our best attempts and numerous extensions to the deadline, negotiations have stalled," said CUPE Local 4948 president Maureen O'Reilly on Sunday. "We find that we are left with little choice but to take job action."
Striking library workers were planning on rallying outside city hall and a group was already picketing outside the Toronto Reference Library at Yonge Street and Bloor Street Monday morning.
Mayor Rob Ford declined to comment on the strike Monday morning except to tell reporters, "We don't want anyone on strike."
All 98 library branches were closed Monday. The library is asking borrowers to hold on to the books and materials they've checked out. No overdue fines will be charged during the strike.
"We remain committed to working with Toronto Public Library Workers' Union Local 4948 to reach a settlement that is fair and reasonable to our staff and affordable to the residents of Toronto so that we can resume public library service in Toronto as soon as possible," Coun. Paul Ainslie, chair of the Toronto Public Library Board, said in a news release on Sunday.
CUPE Local 4948 has accused the library board of making unrealistic promises to the city earlier this year when it agreed to budget cutbacks.
In January, Ford's budget was passed with a 10 per cent funding cut to libraries. Ford initially wanted to slash the library budget by $7 million, but council later agreed to cut $3.9 million instead.
O'Reilly said the library has cut 107 full-time jobs and only 22 per cent of part-time workers -- most of them women -- get benefits.
Librarians have been working without a contract since Jan. 1, as part of greater labour negotiations with other indoor workers in Toronto.
