The Essex County Library strike is now heading into its 132nd day with no plan for talks to resume.
Wednesday night County Council ratified a new four year contract with its inside/outside workers represented by CUPE 2974.1.
The same deal is being rejected by librarians and CUPE 2974.0.
Library Board Chair, Richard Meloche, says he's hopeful the librarian bargaining team accepts the agreement as well.
"I think with CUPE 2974.1 accepting this contract, I've got to believe that CUPE 2974.0 would say, "Well, it must make sense". They have the same president. They have the same union rep. I don't understand why the librarian negotiating committee wouldn't be accepting of it as well."
CUPE 2974.0 spokesperson, Lori Wightman, says the agreement doesn't work for librarians as the majority of them are part-time.
"We would have liked to have a little solidarity from our other group. We would have liked them to join us. It gives us more numbers. It gives us a little bit more power. But like I've always said, our position is not changed. We are a different workforce. We're different, we're 80% part-time. It's ridiculous."
Essex County Library Board Chair Richard Meloche (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Meloche says they've been working with a mediator to try and get both parties back to the table.
"We are talking with a mediator to try and figure out where each side is at. If we're not close to what I would say, a similar plan to what we're offering other county employees, we can't go out there and start offering something much more generous than what the other units have already settled for. It wouldn't be fair to those other units."
Wightman says talks need to resume.
"We're going to continue doing what we're doing and we're waiting for that phone call. They've been saying in the news, in board meetings, in library board meetings, in council meetings that as soon as 2974.1 is done they'll get back to the table with us, that they're sorry libraries are closed. Well you know what? Actions speak louder than words. Pick up a phone."
The four year deal being turned down by the librarians includes an 8% wage increase over the life of the contract as well as a $1,500 lump sum payment for full-time workers and $750 for part-timers.
The sticking point continues to be sick time.
The offer on the table includes 60-hours paid leave for full-time employees and a pro-rated amount for part-time based on the number of hours they work with any unused hours paid out at the end of each year.