About 40 library and art gallery workers, represented by Unifor Local 65, have voted to take strike action against the county if necessary. National Union Representative Glenn Sonier says there's a strike deadline of 12:01am September 11. "The parties have no set meeting dates before the strike deadline," says Sonier. "The union is always open and available, but we haven't heard from the county so we'll have to see how it goes." Sonier didn't specify the sticking points in negotiations. He says their previous contract expired on December 31, 2016 and notes bargaining, and conciliation has been ongoing since then. A mediator met with the parties last week was unable to reach a settlement. It's been a rough summer for local libraries. The Sarnia branch was closed for just over a month after a basement fire July 13. The Mallroad Library was shutdown for a few days after a car slammed into the front of the building August 15.
