'I feel terrible': Aurora Public Library blames coronavirus for layoffs

Library should provide online programs during coronavirus crisis: union leader

Yorkregion.com
April 14, 2020
Lisa Queen

Almost 85 per cent of the staff at Aurora Public Library are being laid off as of April 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a move a union leader is slamming as short-sighted.

Twenty-eight of 33 employees will be out of work in what library CEO Bruce Gorman is calling temporary layoffs under declared emergency leave.

"These times are like no other times," Gorman said. "This is a very difficult decision. We have hard-working, dedicated librarians and library professionals that come to work every day and make The town of Aurora better than ever. It was difficult to make this decision.

"This is the new reality and we are doing the best we can, keeping in mind that we are financially accountable to the Town of Aurora council and taxpayers of Aurora to spend the budget that we get for the greater good for the residents of Aurora, while being as financially responsible as we can be."

The library, with an annual budget of $3.9 million, closed its doors indefinitely beginning March 13 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As many as 1,000 people a day come into the library under normal circumstances.

Katherine Grzejszczak, president of Local 905 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is angry with the extent of the layoffs.

With residents forced to stay home, she said Aurora should be retaining staff to provide more online programming, as other libraries are.

"We're aware of libraries, like Richmond Hill Public Library, offering new online programming, like online story time and even online book clubs," she said.

The library is developing plans for new online programs, to be delivered by the five remaining staff, with the possibility of bringing back laid off staff if needed, Gorman said.

Aurora is laying off 10 full-time and 18 part-time staff, the only library in York Region with workers represented by CUPE to lay off any full-time staff, Grzejszczak said.

Richmond Hill and Newmarket haven’t laid off any library employees.

Georgina has laid off 19 part-time library workers, while Whitchurch-Stouffville has laid off 15 part-time library staff, Vaughan has laid off 172 part-time library employees, and Markham has laid off 197 part-time library workers.

Aurora is laying off 85 per cent of its workforce and 67 per cent of its full-time staff, Grzejszczak said.

"I think the workers are disappointed," she said. "They want to keep serving their community at a time of crisis."

Gorman would not comment on comparisons of the Aurora layoffs to those at other libraries.

"All I can speak to is what we think is the best balance of financial responsibility and providing the best service we can in this online environment," he said. "If we have the opportunity to have more (staff at work), I will absolutely do that.

"All we’re all trying to do is get through this. It was a difficult decision. I feel terrible. I want this pandemic to be over and I just can’t wait to open our library back again and welcome back all of our dedicated, hardworking staff. That’s what we all want."

The laid off employees will keep their benefits for up to three months, will be able to buy back their OMERS pension contributions and, if allowed by the federal government, the library will top off their salaries to 75 per cent, Gorman said.

Meanwhile, residents can apply for a temporary digital library card at aurorapl.ca/content/temporary-digital-library-card.