CUPE Releases Report on Violence Faced by Saskatchewan Library Workers
March 19, 2023
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) last week released the results of a survey conducted in 2022 to better understand the level of workplace violence and harassment facing Saskatchewan library workers and possible solutions to address this problem.
Of those who responded to the survey:
- 78% reported having experienced verbal abuse.
- 71% reported witnessing violence.
- 50% reported experiencing violence.
- 44% reported experiencing sexual harassment.
- 40% reported being threatened with physical harm.
The report also include recommendations reduce incidences of workplace violence in public libraries including:
- better training for staff, particularly on de-escalation and dealing with mental health challenges;
- additional library staff; additional and better-trained security;
- zero tolerance for violence; and social workers
- and Elders at some branches.
Executive Summary and Recommendations
101 public library workers participated in CUPE’s workplace violence and harassment survey, which represents 15.5% of CUPE’s library sector membership in Saskatchewan. The online survey was conducted from June 29 to September 9, 2022.
Most survey respondents reported working for the province’s two largest library systems: Saskatoon Public Library (44%) and Regina Public Library (29%). Of those respondents who identified their gender, 75% said they were female.
78% of participants reported that they have experienced verbal abuse (such as yelling, swearing, racist comments, offensive remarks) in their workplace. Thirty-nine percent indicated they experience verbal abuse rarely, while 29% reported that they experience this regularly and 10% said they experience this abuse frequently. Respondents report higher frequencies of witnessing verbal abuse. For instance, one-quarter of respondents (25%) reported they frequently witness verbal abuse in their workplace.
44% of respondents reported experiencing some sexual harassment in their workplace, though 39% said they experience this rarely.
50% of participants reported they have experienced workplace violence, though 32% report that this violence is rarely experienced. More respondents (71%) reported witnessing violence in the workplace; 26% said they witnessed this regularly and 5% frequently.
Library patrons/members of the public are cited as those most responsible for the verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and violence in the workplace.
40% of respondents said they have been threatened with physical harm while at work. The next most common forms of violence experienced by respondents were “struck with or had an object thrown at me” (16%), and “grabbed” (12%) and “pushed” (12%).
48% of respondents report that they rarely feel unsafe at work, while 27% say they regularly or frequently feel unsafe at work. Respondents working at the downtown branches in Saskatoon and Regina were more likely to report feeling unsafe at work.
Most respondents reported that workplace violence has increased over the last two years, either somewhat (26%) or significantly (27%). In contrast, only 3% of respondents say workplace violence has decreased and 19% said there was no change.
Respondents identified mental health and addictions as the most common reasons for increased workplace violence. They also identified several tasks that expose library workers to higher risks of violence such as: working at the public service desk, in isolated areas and working alone; “roving” the library; interaction with problematic or intoxicated patrons; ensuring compliance with library policies, bylaws, computer use and public health orders; and bathroom checks. Several survey participants said security guards could play a bigger role in enforcing many of the above rules, and doing bathroom checks.
Nearly half of survey respondents (46%) reported that they have assisted or intervened with a member of the public experiencing an overdose or another trauma. Only 28% of these respondents believed they were properly trained to intervene in this situation compared to 46% who answered that they weren’t properly trained and 26% who said they weren’t sure.
Only 30% of survey respondents said there was a violence prevention program at their workplace. Most respondents said they either didn’t know (39%) or said there wasn’t a violence prevention program at their workplace (17%).
Half of respondents (51%) report that they have received employer-sponsored training on how to deal with potentially violent situations. While 48% agreed that this training had prepared them to deal with violent situations that may arise at their workplace, slightly more said the training either did not help (29%) or said they didn’t know (23%).
71% reported that they have not exercised their right to refuse unsafe work, compared to only 5% of respondents who said they did exercise this right.
44 survey participants put forward possible solutions to reduce or eliminate verbal abuse, violence and harassment. These include: better training for staff, particularly on de-escalation and dealing with mental health challenges; supportive managers; more and better trained security guards; additional library staff; more effective or longer bans; zero tolerance for violence; and social workers at some branches.
Recommendations
1) Additional employer-sponsored occupational health and safety and violence prevention training.
2) Expand union education to ensure library workers are better aware of their rights, including the right to refuse unsafe work.
3) Greater utilize joint OH&S committees to push for measures in this survey that would reduce the incidence of workplace violence and harassment.
4) Locate social workers and elders at library branches most often used by marginalized people to assist with housing and income support, navigate the justice system, address mental health needs and bridge cultural gaps in service.
5) Negotiate new provisions into collective agreements to, among other things, define and prohibit all forms of discrimination, harassment and violence; provide supports for victims of domestic violence; require employer training on workplace violence, adjust staffing levels to eliminate the need for working alone; require critical incident debriefing; and require all incident reports to be submitted to joint OH&S committees.
News Release: CUPE releases report on violence faced by Saskatchewan library workers
CUPE has released a report revealing increased incidents of violence faced by public library workers in Saskatchewan while on the job.
The report, “Turning the Page,” is based on a survey of CUPE library workers conducted last year in response to reports of a growing number of violent incidents occurring in Saskatchewan public libraries. Results of the survey show a majority of respondents reporting having experienced or witnessed violence in their workplace. Of those who responded to the survey:
- 78% reported having experienced verbal abuse.
- 71% reported witnessing violence.
- 50% reported experiencing violence.
- 44% reported experiencing sexual harassment.
- 40% reported being threatened with physical harm.
“This report makes it clear that public library workers across the province are facing unacceptable incidents of harassment, abuse, and violence in their workplaces,” said Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “Libraries are essential community hubs that so many rely on as places to gather and access programming in addition to borrowing books and other materials. More needs to be done to make sure our libraries are welcoming and safe places for both workers and the public.”
Most survey respondents reported that incidents of workplace violence have increased over the past two years, identifying mental health and addiction issues as the most common causes of incidents. Nearly half of all who responded to the survey reported assisting or intervening with a member of the public experiencing an overdose or other trauma.
“Libraries are already understaffed, and library workers are simply not equipped to deal with these issues,” added Henley. “Libraries should be accessible to all community members, but there needs to be more support to be able to handle mental health and addictions, and preventative measures put in place to avoid incidents of workplace violence or trauma from occurring.”
Recommendations in the report to reduce incidences of workplace violence in public libraries include better training for staff, particularly on de-escalation and dealing with mental health challenges; additional library staff; additional and better-trained security; zero tolerance for violence; and social workers and Elders at some branches.
101 public library workers participated in CUPE’s workplace violence survey, which represents 15.5% of CUPE’s library sector membership in Saskatchewan. The online survey was conducted from June 29 to September 9, 2022.
CUPE represents approximately 650 public library workers across the province who work in three municipal library systems and five regional library systems: Regina, Saskatoon, Lakeland (North Battleford area); Palliser (Moose Jaw area); Parkland (Yorkton area); Southeast (Weyburn area); Wapiti (Central Saskatchewan) and John M. Cuelenaere (Prince Albert).
Add a new comment