VIRL workers ratify collective agreement

NANAIMO, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 10, 2016) - CUPE 401 members have voted to ratify the collective agreement reached with the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) last month. The Board ratified the agreement on January 9. The five-year contract is retroactive from January 1, 2014 and runs to December 31, 2019.

"We're pleased how this round of bargaining concluded," says CUPE 401 President Blaine Gurrie. "We hope to work together with VIRL to foster a workplace relationship that better serves all library users. After all, our members and public libraries are at the heart of the community."

The ratified contract includes increases of 2 per cent per year, some benefit improvements, and some language improvements that address members' concerns.

CUPE 401 represents more than 200 library workers who serve a large geographical area covering Vancouver Island (except Victoria), Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast and some northern Gulf Islands - at 39 branches in 37 communities.