New talks to settle the nearly three-month long strike of library workers in Essex County don't look likely to be scheduled until at least mid-September.
A mediation meeting has been set up in Toronto for September 15 where the Ontario Labour Board will address the union's complaint alleging the Essex County Library Board of bargaining in bad faith.
The board's chair, Richard Meloche, feels it's only prudent he attend the mediation first before any new negotiations.
"I'm not comfortable going back to the negotiating table prior to having at least a mediation with the OLB, just so that I have a general feel of — if we did do something wrong, what was it so that we don't repeat the offence," says Meloche.
CUPE Local 2974, representing the striking library workers, filed the complaint on August 16.
The union presented a petition of roughly 3,000 signatures to county council on Wednesday night urging the county to drop its position on sick time and resume meaningful talks.
It didn't do much to change Meloche's position.
"What's the message that's being sent? I already know that residents want their libraries open," says Meloche. "This is just a reiteration of what I already know."
Library workers in Essex County went on strike June 25.
