CUPE 1989 members ratify four-year collective agreement with Mississauga Library System

July 25, 2016

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1989) tonight announced the ratification by its members of a four-year collective agreement with Mississauga Library System.

CUPE 1989 members ratify four-year collective agreement with Mississauga Library System

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO–(July 25, 2016) – Members of Local 1989 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1989) today ratified a new collective agreement with the Mississauga Library System (MLS).

The four-year agreement contains wage improvements-including bringing pages from near minimum wage to $15-and improvements for part-time workers who were facing demands that would have made their jobs more precarious.

President of CUPE 1989 Laura Kaminker said of the agreement, “we are very happy with this deal, and we are proud to have made this gain for our lowest-paid workers who make up almost 30 per cent of our membership.”

CUPE 1989 and MLS reached the agreement Thursday evening following two days of bargaining. Kaminker said of the process, “for our leadership teams, this is gratifying beyond measure. The outpouring of support we received from CUPE locals and other unions was overwhelming.”

She praised the members of CUPE 1989 for their unwavering enthusiasm, which included the largest ever turnout for the ratification vote, as well as the support of the public for encouraging them to continue to fight against low wages and precarious work.

“Our members had the courage to use labour’s most powerful tool and I believe they will feel it was worth it, both for the gains we’ve made on this contract, and for our future,” she concluded.