WATCH: Public Library workers walk off job in single-day strike

You won’t be able to browse the books at Saskatoon Public Library on Tuesday.

Library workers hit the picket lines on Tuesday morning as part of a one-day strike.

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Saskatoon Public Library workers have begun their picketing at the Frances Morrison Central Library.
The union that represents the workers says it gave management 5 days to get back to the bargaining table for a new deal surrounding wages and safety concerns. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/843SvoWrQ5

— Alex Brown (@AlexBrownYXE) November 12, 2024

According to CUPE 2669, the union that represents around 270 public library employees in Saskatoon, workers have stopped all services and will be picketing at the Frances Morrison Central Library downtown throughout the day.

Paige Yellowlees, a communications coordinator for CUPE 2669, said the union wants to ensure library workers are not working alone in public-facing roles. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

“We want fairness, and maybe it’s time that the public really understood what’s going on here,” said Pam Ryder, who has worked for the library for more than 10 years.

Last Thursday, the union said it has given management five days to get back to the bargaining table and continue negotiating a new deal including improved wages and strategies to address safety concerns raised by library employees.

The library workers have been without a deal since June of 2023.

“We’re fighting for the right to get fair wages and also workplace safety, specifically, the right that no one has to work alone at a public service point,” said Paige Yellowlees, a communications coordinator for CUPE 2669. “This not only really affects the safety of the library, but it affects the quality of service we can provide to our patrons.”

Library workers held a rally at Saskatoon City Hall on Tuesday afternoon. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

The union reached a tentative agreement with library management in September, but the deal was voted down by members.

“The wages didn’t reflect the cost of living increases. And also, there was no language that gave our workers the right to not work alone in the public service points,” Yellowlees elaborated.

“We (want) it ensured that we always have at least two people at each public service points. If you’re at a branch library, there’s always going to be two people at that desk to help out deescalate any incidents.”

I’m back at the library strike for the noon hour rally.
Les Miserables is blasting and people are fired up outside City Hall. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/6EXhTz5O9h

— Alex Brown (@AlexBrownYXE) November 12, 2024

In June, 95 percent of library workers voted in favour of a strike mandate.

The employees say there has been an escalation of safety incidents at Saskatoon libraries, including violence, verbal attacks, physical abuse, and in some cases allegations of attempted sexual assaults and abductions.

Ryder was working at a Saskatoon branch when someone overdosed in the bathroom, and said the experience shook her.

“Maybe once a month you’re experiencing something, and it’s really hard,” she recalled. “We’ve been working for years to improve safety measures in the library. It’s not happening, and we need it to start happening. It’s quite dangerous here.”

She said the safety violations are making people want to quit, and some already have.

“We’re losing a lot of really good people. This is it’s a skilled job in its own way,” Ryder explained.

“It takes time to learn how to do the job, and people are leaving before they even really get a chance to understand how great this job can be.”

CUPE 2669 said the strike should end at around 5 p.m.