Despite outcry during a Wednesday council meeting, striking library workers couldn't convince Essex County Council to move to request a return to the bargaining table.
A number of Essex County library workers, who have been on strike since June 25, stood up at the meeting hoping for council's help to get the library workers union CUPE Local 2974 and library management to resume talks.
CUPE Local 2974 represents 58 workers across 14 library branches in Essex County.
"Certainly [the library worker's] presence here shows their sincerity in what they're doing and I think county council is well aware of that," says county Warden Tom Bain. "We're certainly hoping that both sides can get back to the table and bargain a settlement there... Dragging it out is not good for anyone."
Tom Bain, Warden for the County of Essex, chairs the regular meeting of county council on July 20, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
During the meeting, CUPE Library Workers Chair Maureen O'Reilly requested for a "point of privilege," to have the chance to speak as a delegate and address council members. However, her request was denied, which was followed by a number of the library workers yelling "shame" at members of council.
Bain says according to council bylaws, "point of privilege" is reserved for members of county council, rather than members of the public.
"It honestly doesn't matter what she wanted to speak on. There's no such thing as a point of privilege from a member of the audience. We have our regulations and to be a delegation, you have to be put on as a delegate earlier," he says. "The only other way to get around that is to have a member of county council move [to have them speak] and another member second it; and there [has to] be a two-thirds majority of the members to allow someone to speak as a delegate that's not on our agenda."
Bain says the library workers were unable to get a councilor to second the request.
"I think our problem is, we don't want to get into any shape, way or form of negotiating in the public. That's something that should be done by CUPE and by the library board," he says.
Negotiations were last held between the union and management on July 15, but talks broke down without a resolution.
-With files from Ricardo Veneza
