The inauguration with great fanfare of the Gabrielle-Roy library, in the heart of lower town of Quebec, will lose its splendor. A labor dispute between the 240 workers in the capital’s network of 26 libraries and the City forces the latter to cancel the festivities — and absorb a loss of $60,000 in the process.
The celebrations were to begin on Friday and allow the population to discover the emblematic library of Saint-Roch, closed since August 2019 to get a makeover. The makeover cost more than 43 million dollars, including more than 30 million paid by the City and 10 million paid by the Quebec government.
Without an employment contract since December 31, 2022, the union members of the Canadian Institute of Quebec rejected the latest employer offer last Sunday by 73%. It was the last chance vote before an indefinite general strike was called. The pickets will appear on the 1ster March, just when the Gabrielle-Roy library was to welcome its public again.
“The situation does not allow the population to take full advantage of the organized activities and discover its central library,” deplored the city hall in a press release on Tuesday. The City is obliged to cancel the festivities to reopen to the public. »
The host Marina Orsini, the director Ricardo Trogi and the singers Vincent Vallières, Jérôme 50 and Tire le coyote were, among others, to participate in the festivities. Quebec had paid $300,000 to organize the three days of celebrations. She will be able to recover 80% of the amount, but will nevertheless have to assume 20% of the costs, or $60,000.
“It disappoints me,” said the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand. We are not going to say: “it cost $300,000, we are going to take another $300,000 to make an opening worthy of the name”. Public money has a limit. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but it’s certain that we won’t have the same means to reopen – otherwise, it’s a waste of public funds. »
The main source of the dispute between the union and the City is based on the salary question. The workers are demanding a catch-up that takes into account the rise in the cost of living, a jump of four levels upon accession to a unionized position, an adjustment of hourly rates more in line with that of other municipal employees and an increase in evening and weekend premiums.
Failing to hold the festivities, the inauguration of the library will take place “through the media,” explained the mayor. Shortly after the cancellation of the celebrations, journalists received a second press release inviting them, this time, to come and discover the place on Wednesday.
With Alexandre Robillard