VIRL/BCGEU bargaining update
March 26, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, March 26, 2022 – On Thursday, March 17, the members of BCGEU Local 702 wrote the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Board, specifying the range of Librarian wage increases that would end the strike.
At mediation on March 22, VIRL offered a four-year proposal within the BCGEU-specified range, and with reasonable expectation that an agreement would be achieved. Instead, BCGEU rejected the proposal, escalated its service-impacting strike, and is now seeking an unspecified increase.
Today, BCGEU will close the following 10 VIRL locations due to picket lines:
- Lake Cowichan
- Nanaimo North
- Nanaimo Harbourfront
- Creativity Commons
- Port Alberni
- Qualicum Beach
- Port McNeill
- Courtenay
- Cowichan
- Sooke
VIRL encourages BCGEU to suspend its service-impacting strike and reconsider VIRL’s March 22 proposal. The proposal exceeds historically negotiated adjustments, meets BCGEU’s stated expectation, and spares communities and residents from new taxes. The offer still stands.
More information will be provided as it becomes available. For the latest updates, including the current strike locations, visit virl.bc.ca/updates.
Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications
250.327.3651
dcarson@virl.bc.ca
