Librarians were off the job on Wednesday and pickets were up outside four branches of the Vancouver Island Regional Library system.
It was the first day during weeks of job action that all of the system’s 48 librarians walked off the job.
Branches in Sooke, Ladysmith, Parksville and Comox were closed because of pickets. Other libraries in the 39-branch system were operating with reduced services without librarians, who are members of the B.C. General Employees’ Union.
A mediator is involved in the dispute but no talks were scheduled between the parties as of Wednesday afternoon.
This is the fourth week of job action by librarians, who are seeking wage hikes. The previous contract between the employer and union expired in December 2020.
The employer said it has made an offer of a four-year contract within wage parameters suggested by the union, but the BCGEU has said the offer does not go far enough.
It said VIRL librarians’ pay is the lowest among similar regional libraries and the employer is not offering enough given the rising cost of living on Vancouver Island.
The union said in a statement Wednesday that librarians are an important resource for communities. “Many of them are responsible for operations for anywhere from two to six branches each. All are advocates for their communities.”
Services provided by librarians include school outreach, early literacy support through story times, programs such as summer reading clubs and information sessions for newcomers to Canada and Vancouver Island. They answer questions from patrons and help them navigate government resources, the BCGEU said.
Along with librarians, another 188 permanent Vancouver Island Regional Library employees are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said David Carson, VIRL spokesman.
CUPE members won’t cross BCGEU picket lines. In cases where there are no pickets, CUPE members go to work and library branches remain open.
Their jobs include circulation supervisors, library assistants and information technicians. They also work in finance, communications, procurement, scheduling, information technology and collection and support services.
“They perform many of the functions that keep our materials circulating and our system running smoothly each and every day,” Carson said.
On Wednesday, patrons were able to check out books and browse the shelves at branches that remained open, but programs and events, such as story times and readings by authors, were cancelled, Carson said.
“We can expect to see a cancellation of librarian-led programming and the specialized services trained librarians provide in the areas of research and reference questions, book recommendations, and the many other important services librarians offer every day.”
Because the employer does not know which libraries will be behind picket lines until the evening before, it’s difficult to know how specific services will be affected, Carson said.
The union has been posting plans for the following day on its website at BCGEU/VIRL.
Carson said aside from closing some branches, the strike has resulted in cancellation of some virtual programs. “And we can anticipate future disruptions if the strike continues.”
The library is extending hold pickup times for materials.
Carson said most of the CUPE workers who work in administration are based at the Nanaimo North branch and when that branch is closed due to picketing, it has a ripple effect on the delivery of library materials throughout system.
The Vancouver Island Regional Library system runs from Sooke to Sidney, and north to Port Hardy, and includes the coast and Haida Gwaii. It is largely funded by local municipalities and regional districts.
