Toronto’s librarians could be facing a lockout, or strike, in the next few weeks..!

Toronto Public Library Workers Union Local 4948 announced Friday that talks with the library board were at an “impasse” and it had a requested a “no board” report from the ministry of labour.

The request is the last step in the bargaining process before a union can legally go on strike.

Once the “no board” letter is issued a 17-day countdown starts towards a possible labor disruption. When the “no board” period expires, the union could go on strike or the library could lock out its 2,300 workers.

“The library board is seeking massive concessions from their contract,” Local 4948 president Maureen O’Reilly stated in a press release issued Friday. “This threatens the quality of remaining jobs, and the conditions for those doing them; and that further threatens the quality of service. We are being stretched thin.

“If the board values public library services, they will remove the concessions, and negotiate a fair deal, so we can assure the public that workers have secured the sustainable conditions they need to provide the best library services on the continent.”

The two sides are continuing to talk at the bargaining table.

Toronto Public Library spokesman Anne Marie Aikins said the library board are continuing to “bargain in good faith.”

“We’re committed to a successful resolution of all our issues,” Aikins said.

“We’re committed to staying at the table until we find a resolution.”

Although the union claims talks have reached an impasse, Aikins said the library believes talks “so far have been constructive.”

If a deal can’t be reached, it would be the first time library workers have gone on strike in the history of the amalgamated city.

Is it just me, or are there a LOT of ‘strike’ situations in this city, lately?  Why do you think that is?