Canadian Library workers on strike / locked out

Here is an interesting story about a library union strike and lockout:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080218.BCLIBRARY18/TPStory/National

“The union has engaged in a series of tactics to bring its cry for equity to the public, including not working over the lunch hour and waiving overdue fines. [emphasis mine]

But while that garnered some public support, it raised the ire of the library system’s governing board. It issued the lockout notice midweek, closing down the nine libraries in the Capital Region yesterday at 5:01 p.m.”We have a responsibility to protect the assets of the library,” said Chris Graham, chair of the Greater Victoria Public Library Board, in a news release. “The strike activities by the union are having a severe fiscal impact and the library is losing important streams of revenue, while employees are continuing to be paid.”

Mr. Graham said the loss of more than $40,000 in uncollected fines has hurt the library system.”

via Jessamyn West @

http://www.librarian.net/stax/2251/library-lockout-in-victoria/