Talks in the ongoing Essex County library strike are set to resume on November 25.
Essex County Library Board Chair Richard Meloche didn't suggest there was any new development that led to talks starting up again.
"Just that sitting back and not being at the table is not going to get us anywhere," says Meloche. "We want to get this resolved."
Meloche says the library board approached the union representing the 58 striking library workers — CUPE Local 2974 — about new bargaining dates.
There isn't any new offer on the table.
Lori Wightman, spokesperson for the local bargaining team, says members are heading into the talks cautiously optimistic.
"They're calling us back, so we're hoping that they're going to come back willing to work towards a resolution; have a little compromise in there," says Wightman.
Meloche feels there is some space the two sides can find to get a deal done.
"We have room to move on certain issues, but we've been very up front from the very beginning; the third-party insurer is something that we have to move to," says Meloche.
The change to a new sick time plan is a key sticking point of the strike.
"I hope that there's nothing that's carved in stone," says Wightman. "I can't imagine any reason that there would be anything on the table that can't be tweaked a little bit."
The last time the two sides held talks was September 13 and 14.
The striking library workers have been out on the picket lines since June 25.
BlackburnNews.com has reached out for comment from CUPE Local 2974, but has yet to have a reply.
