Two weeks after their last mediated bargaining session, the Essex County Library Board and CUPE Local 2974 are no closer to reaching an agreement.
Union spokesperson Lori Wightman says they're standing firm on their position of keeping things status quo, whereas the board wants to cut employee sick days.
"We know that what they want to change is not an issue for our workforce," she explains. "We've been told by management, in negotiations, that there is no savings to the library if they want to implement what they want to implement."
It seems as though some miscommunication could also be slowing the process of getting a deal done. Wightman heard that the board believes it gave the union its final offer on June 22, but the mediator never told her it was the board's final offer.
No talks are scheduled at this point, but the local union boss is hopeful there will be discussion soon.
