APRIL 2018 REPORT NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS CUPE LOCAL 122-2 (NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS) APRIL REPORT APRIL 2018 REPORT NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS

USER STATISTICS In 2010 Canadians visited their libraries 100.2 million times 62% have a library card (64% have passports) 56% have visited a library in the last year Canadians sign out about 2.1 million books from 600 public libraries; they sign out 261,000 DVDs

CUPE NATIONAL LIBRARY SECTOR WORKER STATISTICS CUPE represents 22,300 library workers across Canada (80% of all unionized library workers) 85% of CUPE library members are women 12% are racialized.

Municipalities fund library operations through property taxes FUNDING Municipalities fund library operations through property taxes The province provides funding for purchase of library materials (Provincial funding in Ontario has been frozen for 10 years!)

PRECARIOUS WORK Only about 46% of municipal library workers have full-time jobs The balance of workers are employed on a part-time or casual basis It takes an average of 7 years for a part-time worker to achieve a fulltime position This makes it difficult to attract young workers into the field

HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS Workers witness and deal with verbal threats, intoxicated patrons, drug use, theft, and viewing of explicit material Library workers interact with marginalized populations daily but have no training in social work Many libraries are located in old or under-maintained buildings. Asbestos and mould are frequent problems

COMMUNITY CENTRES Library meeting rooms are used by over 28,000 people each month 540 Canadian libraries with free Wi-Fi support 3.2 million connections annually The 8,500 internet workstations are used 18 million times annually Technology training classes at over 300 libraries are attended by 16,000 people each month

PRIVATIZATION Contracting out of ordering, processing, cataloguing and technology is a common threat The move to self-service checkout and returns threatens staff positions as well As many libraries contemplate replacement of old buildings P3s emerge as new threat

BARGAINING AND PENSIONS Negotiated wage increases are small at less than 2% Bargaining focuses on preserving benefits such as sick time and improving benefits for part-time workers 92% of workers are able to participate in a registered pension plan but part-time and casual workers must meet high standards to qualify

WHAT CAN CUPE MEMBERS DO TO HELP Get a library card. This is free by law in your home community and usually takes just a couple of minutes with proof of address. Library funding is based on the number of users. Every library is governed by a Library Board made up of members of the community. Consider volunteering to be a member of your Board. Vote for provincial parties and municipal candidates that recognize the importance of libraries and support library funding.