A scheduled Essex County Library Board meeting for next week has been cancelled.
The meeting was called off after Essex County Council called a special meeting (for the same date) dealing with county roads. The cancellation is troubling for CUPE Local 2974.
Spokesperson Lori Wightman says the board should meet to try and resolve the 209 day dispute. She says it's disappointing.
"Apparently a visioning meeting for roads is more important then working towards getting these libraries open," says Wightman. "That's their prerogative I guess but it does send a message to the citizens of this county on what our priorities are."
Board Chair Richard Meloche says the roads meeting is an important meeting.
"It was the only night they could get everybody together so they asked us if we could postponed our meeting," says Meloche.
Essex County Library Board Chair Richard Meloche (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Meloche says the county asked if the board's meeting could be postponed.
"They've been asking for this for quite sometime and it's an important thing too, he says. "It's a re-look at all the county roads."
The last time the two parties met was back on November 25.
In mid-December, the 57 full and part-time workers rejected the board's final offer in a supervised vote. The main sticking point is over third party insurance coverage for short term disability.
The library board will now meet on February 22.