CUPE blasts Stouffville for laying off 15 part-time library workers during temporary library closure

Library temporarily closed due to coronavirus prevention measures

Yorkregion.com
March 24, 2020
Graeme Frisque

When the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library closed it doors to the public March 13, library management made the decision to lay off all 15 part-time workers.

CUPE Local 905, which represents 6,000 municipal and library workers across York Region, said as it is aware, Whitchurch-Stouffville is the only municipality in the region to lay off its part-time library workers.

"We were surprised," CUPE Local 905 president Katherine Grzejszczak said. "All of these wages were already budgeted for."

According to Grejszczak, the union has been in talks with the town to reconsider its decision, but as of March 19, Grejszczak said the town was unwilling.

Now the 15 part-time workers are left without their regular income during a time of a pandemic and self-isolation.

"They are very disappointed," she said. "They are very concerned. They are literally worried about being able to pay their grocery bill. We are very hopeful that mayor and council will change their mind and do the right thing and take care of their people at this very difficult time."

Town spokesperson Glenn Jackson said the town recognizes that if facilities are closed, and no shifts are scheduled, there would be no work for part-time staff to conduct.

"By acting proactively, the town has given our part-time staff the opportunity to apply for federal assistance, such as employment insurance," Jackson said. "We want to help staff as much as we can in this situation. The town has every intention to bring back all part-time staff when the situation normalizes."

EI only covers 55 per cent of income, Grejszczak said, and there is still a one-week waiting period. She also said a lot of other libraries have been able to find work from home duties for their staff.

Fourteen of 17 library staff have signed a petition asking the town to reconsider the decision.

Many of the staff have worked at the library for decades, including two that have worked there for 21 years.

"You can only imagine folks that have served the community for 21 years and a global pandemic comes and they are told they are on their own," Grejszczak said.