With strike over, Halifax Public Library staff prepare for reopening of branches

Halifax Public Library staff are heading back to work today after the workers’ union reached a deal with the employer over the weekend.

Chad Murphy, spokesperson and vice president of Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees Local 14 says that deal, reached last week and ratified over the weekend, is a good one that accomplished many of the unions’ goals.

However, he adds the ratification vote was far from unanimous, with 41 per cent of members voting against the agreement.

Murphy says that result tells him there is more work to be done in the future.

“I do think returning to work will be difficult for some people, especially if the vote didn’t end up how they wanted it to,” he said. “But we are all professionals here, we love what we do, and we’re looking forward to getting back and serving the public and reforming those connections with them.”

All library branches will open to the public as of Thursday, although full library programming won’t be resuming until October 1.