There's a new development in the Essex County library strike.
The library board has applied to the Ministry of Labour for a supervised vote.
CUPE Local 2974 spokesperson Lori Wightman says the vote follows a breakdown in contract talks last week. "They've made an application to the ministry to have the supervised vote. We're just waiting to hear the date and time when that will take place. From what I understand, it will be within the next 10 days, so we're ready to do that whenever they tell us we have to."
Wightman says striking library workers are standing firm on the key issue in the dispute, sick time, and that will be abundantly clear after the supervised vote takes place.
The union and library management met with a provincial mediator last Friday for the first time since September but talks broke off only after eight hours.