CUPE Local 2974, which represents unionized Essex County Library workers, said it has filed a bad faith bargaining complaint against the Essex County Library Board.

The union said in a news release it filed the complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board and has requested an expedited hearing "in light of the urgency of the situation with the library strike."

Workers have been on strike for 53 days and all 14 library branches in Essex County have been closed.

The 58 library workers have been on strike since June 25. The union claims the big issue is sick days.