Toronto library workers reach tentative deal with city

Workers to vote on deal March 29, details to be released after

Striking Toronto library workers have reached a tentative agreement with the city. The deal — reached late on March 28 — means the city’s 98 library branches may re-open soon.

UPDATE: Toronto library workers ratify deal with city

The 2,300 library staff and members of the Toronto Public Library Workers Union, Local 4948 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will vote on the offer on March 29.

Details of the new agreement will not be released until after the ratification vote, the union said.

Toronto library workers have been off the job since March 19. Prior to the strike, CUPE said it wanted a better deal for the 70 per cent of its workers who are part-time.

Meanwhile, the city’s inside workers — represented by CUPE Local 79 — are split on the final offer by the city. Two of four groups voted to accept the agreement, while the other two rejected it.

The city’s full-time unionized employees accepted the offer, but part-time recreation workers and long-term care services workers turned it down.

Part-time recreation workers are now in a legal strike-lockout position, while long-term care workers will enter arbitration because they are designated as an essential service.

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