Philippine Women Centre of B.C.
Statement

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT FOR THE VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS, CUPE LOCAL 391

27 August 2007

The Philippine Women Centre in Vancouver, B.C., an organization of overseas Filipino women in Canada, stands in solidarity with the striking library workers of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 391 and supports their just demands for pay equity, improvements for part-time and auxiliary workers, improved language for job security and improvements in health benefits for the library workers.

We belong to the third largest immigrant community in B.C.; the majority of our women come through the Live-in Caregiver Program and continue to work in mostly private health care facilities and homes. Our women struggle with lower wages, long work hours, and a lack of job security, instead of being hired for the post-secondary education and training they possess. As workers who contribute to the economic prosperity and social capital of Canada, the Philippine Women Centre, on behalf of Filipino women migrant workers, support the struggle of CUPE workers.

Pay equity is indeed a human right – wages for librarians and library workers must be commensurate with that of those in other occupations with similar educational qualifications, training, and responsibilities. In a predominantly female profession and workplace, library workers have long been underpaid compared to other municipal workers.

For the library workers to go on strike, their first union strike in 77 years, speaks eloquently of their collective strength and their determined stand to assert the rights and welfare of library workers.

We value the Vancouver Public Library and the excellent services provided by its librarians and library workers. We want our library open. Our children and grandchildren are already missing the story times and Mother Goose programs. We miss not being able to visit the branches, borrow books, and having access to free Internet terminals.    

The library strike has gone on far too long. We ask that the Library’s city employer return to the negotiation table and negotiate with the Library workers in good faith and come up with a fair collective settlement.
We stand behind our striking sisters and brothers of the library. We hope that they keep their spirits up and their resolve strong.

In solidarity with the striking library workers,

PHILIPPINE WOMEN CENTRE of B.C