With strike imminent, Halifax Public Libraries will close all branches starting Monday

Library staff are heading on strike Monday after conciliation talks with Halifax Public Libraries came to an end on the weekend.

On Sunday, the union representing 340 employees and management failed to reach an agreement.

Negotiations between Halifax Public Libraries and Local 14 of the Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees have been ongoing since last October.

The union said it was hoping to resolve several outstanding issues, including wage increases, better provisions around sick leave and parental leave top-ups, and details on how working conditions would be improved.

"It's definitely frustrating," said Chad Murphy, vice-president of the union local.

"We gave it our best shot over the last 10 months and we were hopeful that we could reach an agreement today."

The strike was set to begin Monday at 12:01 A.M. 

Murphy said there was some progress Sunday, but negotiations eventually fell apart over employee salary models.

"We hear staff concerns about rising costs of living, and believe our final offer is fair to workers and aligns with other union agreements representing public employees," Cathy Maddigan, Halifax Public Libraries' human resources director said in an email.

"We are disappointed that we were not able to resolve the outstanding issue at the bargaining table today."

The union says workers have been thrust into an expanded support role, especially around issues like housing and food security, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This role has also brought more challenges around employee safety and security, something the union wants to see a new deal reflect.

Branches to close, some online services available

In a release, Halifax Public Libraries said all locations will be closed beginning Monday. 

This will include book drops, regularly scheduled programming, and room booking. All loans will be extended and materials won't be due until the library reopens. 

Halifax Public Libraries' website, and additional online services like Hoopla, Libby, Overdrive, Kanopy and PressReader, will remain available during the strike.