It appears a request from City Councillor Trevor Giertuga isn’t sitting well with the union responsible for library employees.
Giertuga is asking the Thunder Bay Public Library Board questions about a demonstration library employees held during the 2020 budget deliberations.
He’s also asking about who paid for the library CEOs to visit his hometown of Bromley, England which was part of a city-related trip.
CUPE President Margaret Demillo says “Giertuga’s request for information, is either an indication of his misunderstanding of public libraries or maybe more personal regarding unions’ right to protest political decisions.”
She goes on to say ” Or perhaps he takes issue with the library board and management supporting the union’s stance that cutting the budget is harmful to the community.”
CUPE 3120 is hopeful that the TBPL Board will reply only as it should to the municipality.
Giertuga’s questions that are coming to City Council on Monday can be read below:
1. What is the designated time frame for employee’s dinner breaks?
2. Was travel time to and from city hall incorporated in the employee’s time off for the demonstration?
3. Was the TBPL Board aware of the demonstration and if so did they approve the absence?
4. Was time off without pay granted to attend the demonstration?
5. Was the TBPL Board aware of the lobby efforts on the TBPL website?
6. Was the CEO Mr. Pateman’s trip to his previous home town in Bromley, England through sister cities funded by TBPL public funds? If so, was the board aware of this expenditure?
7. Please provide the rationale and benefits obtained by the TBPL CEO by attending his previous
home town where he is intimately aware of the library processes, procedures, and policies in
England.
