Forming a union will result in a more balanced and equitable workplace. Library workers across York Region use their union to stand together and demand respect from their employers. The feeling of collectively working together is empowering for workers and intimidating to the bosses. Our union has successfully fought back layoffs due to budget cuts, overturned unfair discipline, petitioned against arbitrary schedule changes, and fought for library workers facing harassment and discrimination from their managers. These are just a few benefits I’ve personally seen from libraries that have a strong union. I know without my union and the protections of our collective agreement I wouldn’t have the wages, benefits or job security I enjoy now.
Rayanne Lees (she/her), Aurora Public Library and vice-president, CUPE Local 905
Reaching out to CUPE was the smartest decision we made for ourselves. The Union leaders immediately provided us with support, answers, knowledge and more importantly a strength to our voices! Today, we hold our first ever Collective Agreement in our hands. That has immediately enabled us to earn respect from our management staff, an equitable distribution of our hours on the schedule, no favoritism and a sense of security in holding our jobs through Covid-19. Management now is more open to listening to us and accommodating our requests. A big win!
As a small group of part-time employees at a library we now have the collective strength of the union behind us. We have the unconditional support and knowledge from both our elected officers as well as our National Representative. It was a journey to get here, yet we are stronger and wiser now than ever before! And personally, I am still learning as I grow in this environment.
Nina Brown, CUPE vice-chair at Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library