Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 30 April 2012 16:23
Okanagan library workers have served 72 hour strike notice on 16 branches including Vernon, Armstrong and Enderby. The 150 members of CUPE will be in a legal strike position Thursday morning, unless a deal is reached before that. Local 1123 president Rose Jurkic says libraries would remain open but the workers would not be collecting fines or working overtime in rotating action. "Our last offer on the table was well within the library board's budget," said Jurkic. "When the employer refuses to bargain, unions only have one tool-and that's the withdrawal of service." She says the workers haven't had any improvements to their benefit package in 20 years. They voted 96 percent in favour of strike action in March. Negotiations have been going on for six months. The union's last contract expired in December 2010. Vernon's library is currently closed as books are being moved into the new facility which opens Saturday.
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