BCGEU Report to VIRL Board

To: All BCGEU Members Working at Vancouver Island Regional Library
Re: BCGEU Report to VIRL Board

It will come as no surprise to librarians at Vancouver Island Regional Library that the relationship between VIRL and its librarians has deteriorated over recent years. Your Union has been very concerned about the state of the relationship. We have sought a better relationship between the Union and VIRL as well as enhanced articulation of respect by VIRL toward librarians. We continue to seek relationship enhancement, whether that be independently or with external assistance.

As we continue to seek enhanced relationships, we felt an obligation to advise the VIRL Board of the state of labour relations. Attached find a copy of the Public Delegation report that Staff Representative Ernie Gorrie presented to the Board on Saturday January 21st.

Some of you may have lived through the changes in the work environment over the past decade or more. For others, the awareness of changes may come through reports of others.

When one considers that 10 years ago some facilities were at risk of closure due to the state of the physical structures, we recognize that the physical environment library facilities has improved markedly.

During that same period however, the data suggest that the state of the relationship between VIRL and its librarians has deteriorated markedly. It is only by looking at VIRL in the context of its history, and by comparing VIRL's labour relations environment to that of other employers do we really appreciate the state of VIRL's labour relations.

The Union will continue to represent members and their rights while we continue to seek improvements in relationships.

BCGEU Report to VIRL Board

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