Toronto Public Library Working Towards New Collective Agreement

TORONTO, April 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The Toronto Public Library Board continues to bargain with the Toronto Public Library Workers' Union Local 4948 to reach a collective agreement.

A "No Board" report was issued on April 25, 2016 and library workers will be in a legal strike/lock-out position at 12:01am on Monday, May 2.

"We continue to bargain and are committed to reaching a negotiated settlement," said Vickery Bowles, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library. "We value our staff tremendously, and appreciate the work they do to make TPL one of the world's greatest library systems. We're working to reach a deal that is fair to both parties and Toronto residents, and will work to the strike deadline and beyond if necessary to reach an agreement."

In the event of a strike or lock-out:

• All library branches and facilities, including Bookmobile and Home Library Services, would be closed.
• No fines would be charged on overdue library materials during the period of a strike/lock-out.
• All telephone-based service would be suspended, including material renewals.
• All scheduled meetings and events would be cancelled. Room rental charges would be refunded, as appropriate.
• All book drops would be closed. Borrowers would be asked to keep library materials and not return them until a strike/lock-out is over.
• Most website services would be available at tpl.ca.

Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

SOURCE Toronto Public Library

Media Contact: Ana-Maria Critchley, [email protected], 416.393.7212 (office), 416.985.1225 (cell)