The union representing Toronto’s library workers announced Monday morning it has reached a tentative four-year labour agreement with the Toronto Public Library Board.
“This has been a difficult round of bargaining, but our bargaining committee has secured a deal which we believe addresses some of our concerns and allows Toronto’s library workers to continue to provide great services in the city’s 100 branches,” said CUPE Local 4948 President Marueen O’Reilly in a statement.
Labour negotiations continued well into the early morning hours between the city and its library workers on Monday past the 12:01 a.m. strike and lockout deadline.
Library workers had been concerned about the increase of precarious part-time work and had also eyed an annual wage increase of two per cent.
However, details of the new deal have not been released pending a ratification vote which is scheduled in the coming days.
The current labour deal with workers expired Dec. 31. Library staff last went on strike in 2012 for 11 days after negotiations broke down with the city.
Toronto Public Library is considered one of the world’s busiest library systems with more than 18 million visitors to 99 branches in 2014.