Kitchener Public Library workers vote to unionize

Staff at Kitchener Public Library's five branches have voted to unionize and are now working to get a contract in place.

Hannah White, senior library assistant of children programing at the central branch, told CBC News Friday the workers have tried to unionize in the past and this recent move started in the summer of 2020.

"This campaign is more than one location. There were staff at all five locations who were really supportive of this through all departments at the library," White said.

On its website, CUPE said low wages and concerns around health and safety, as well as "issues of favouritism" were some of reasons why workers wanted to unionize.

"We have long felt the need to have a stronger voice in our workplace," Joseph Brannan, a library workers involved in organizing the move, said in a statement on CUPE's website. 

"There are challenges in our workplace, but we all really love the work we do and the public we serve."

White said workers are also providing services to the community that would be outside the scope of what libraries traditionally do.

"Something that all libraries have been experiencing is the lack of funding from all levels of government toward social services," she said.

"Libraries are always transforming and changing the public and we are happy to continue to do so, but in order for us to continue to provide the best service that we can, we as a union would like to see higher compensation, we would like to have more help and training and more support from the highest levels of the library."

White said the union will include library positions like shelving staff, library assistants, clerks, support staff, as well as librarians and casual and contract staff.

Management positions will not be part of the union, White said.

She adds next steps involve getting all litigated positions in the union and negotiating a contract.