1. APRIL 2018 REPORT NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS
CUPE LOCAL (NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS)
APRIL REPORT
APRIL 2018 REPORT NORTH BAY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS

2. USER STATISTICS
In 2010 Canadians visited their libraries 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

3. 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.

4. 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!)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.