In wake of safety concerns, Saskatoon Public Library workers vote in favour of job action

Contract negotiations between the Saskatoon Public Library and the union representing its workers are at an impasse.

In a vote held Friday and Saturday, members of CUPE 2669 voted 95 per cent in favour of sanctions "up to and including a full withdrawal of services."

CUPE 2669 represents about 270 public library workers at nine Saskatoon Public Library locations. They have been engaged in bargaining since January 2023.

"Safety and security in the workplace and the cost of living wage increases — those are the two big things," said Jeff Bergen, president of CUPE 2669, in an interview.

Bergen said a mediator, who will work with both parties to try to reach a collective agreement, has been appointed and the mediation process will start soon.

He said the employer is aware of the challenges and the escalation of violence against employees in libraries. However, he said the library refuses to include extra security provisions in the collective agreement.

In an incident at the Carlyle King Library in April, intoxicated patrons allegedly struck a library security guard and physically assaulted an employee.

As a result, Saskatoon Public Library reduced operating hours at the Carlyle King, Frances Morrison, Dr. Freda Ahenakew and Mayfair branch locations.

Bergen said library workers asked for walkie-talkies, security alert bracelets and other "common-sense measures" to reduce violence in libraries.

"Our workers are regularly sworn at, verbally accosted," he said. "There have been multiple incidences of physical assault, threats, and stuff being thrown on a person."

An employee and a security guard were allegedly assaulted at the Carlyle King Library located on Laurier Drive in Saskatoon on April 15. (Submitted by Carlyle King Library)

In a statement, Saskatoon Public Library said it is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees and patrons.

"We made the union a fair offer, and an impasse was declared. A strike vote is not unusual in the collective bargaining process," the statement said.

Bergen said the library is refusing to increase wages to address inflation. As well, its decisions about the central library replacement project are costing taxpayers more money.

Construction on a new central library was supposed to begin last summer and the building was set to open in 2026. The library cancelled the tender in September 2023 after getting bids that were beyond the available budget.

"They obviously have put a lot of money into this new library, doing all those plans, hiring all those consultants, that costs a lot. And when we're asking for basic cost of living, wage increases to pay for rent and groceries, which have skyrocketed, they're not willing to do that," he said.

Bergen said there has been an increase in management positions to 45 in 2022 from 19 in 2015, at a time when there is a need for more workers on the floor so that people are not working alone.

"We used to have two or three people working each service point downtown, for example, and now that's one person working alone. And that's a big safety concern," he said.