Congratulations to Our Toronto Zoo Workers!

A month-long strike at Canada's largest zoo is one step closer to ending today after members of Local 1600 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1600) voted to ratify a four-year collective agreement.

"While we are looking forward to returning to work and to looking after the animals we so deeply care about, our employer should be under no illusions that this was an easy decision for us to collectively take. This was a month of struggle, for the right reasons, and I am incredibly proud of what our members have achieved," said Christine McKenzie, President of CUPE 1600.

"Our members understood that their bargaining committee negotiated the best possible agreement on their behalf. The strike may be over, but our commitment to advocating for good jobs and the animals we care for will never end," she added.

Members began strike action on May 11 to protect good jobs, quality animal care and the world-leading research, education and conservation efforts that make the Toronto Zoo a 21st-century zoological facility.

McKenzie said the union "fully intends to hold the Zoo to their commitments and to hold them to account if they fail to live up to their promises."

Following today's ratification vote, the tentative agreement awaits ratification by the Toronto Zoo Board of Management, which is expected to take place Monday. Once ratified by both parties, the Zoo is expected to reopen this week.

CUPE 1600 represents more than 400 zookeepers, horticulturalists, trades people, administrative and public relations staff, concession and ride operators at Canada's largest zoo.

Library Workers Support the Toronto Zoo Workers

As the Toronto Zoo is owned by the City of Toronto, we all have a stake in our Toronto Zoo. If good jobs that support a world-leading zoo and support communities are important to you, tell the Toronto Zoo Board of Management to negotiate a fair contract that respects good, secure jobs that support quality animal care, research, education and conservation, as well as our community. Four Toronto City Councillors sit on the Toronto Zoo Board of Management. You can contact them, you can call 311 or contact your own City Councillor directly to tell them how you feel. Paul Ainslie (Chair), Ward 43-Scarborough East, 416-396-7222 or councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca Glenn de Baeremaeker, Ward 38-Scarborough Centre, 416-392-0204, or councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto.ca Mary Fragedakis, Ward 29-Toronto-Danforth, 416-392-4032, or councillor_fragedakis@toronto.ca Chin Lee, Ward 41-Scarborough-Rouge River, 416-392-1375, or councillor_lee@toronto.ca

Rally to Support the Toronto Zoo Workers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Toronto Public Library Workers will be attending a Solidarity BBQ and Rally organized by CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn and Secretary Treasurer Candace Rennick this Thursday for CUPE 1600 members at the Toronto Zoo. 

There will be hot dogs, hamburgers and vegetarian options, music, sound, and solidarity with our striking CUPE 1600 sisters and brothers.

Nearly 400 members of CUPE 1600 began strike action against the Toronto Zoo last week to defend good jobs that support communities as well as the research, education and conservation programs that make the Zoo a world-leading institution.

We’ll be calling on the Zoo’s Board of Management and Toronto City Councillors to negotiate a fair contract that protects good jobs that support communities and quality animal care for a zoo everyone can be proud to call Our Toronto Zoo.

Meet at the main entrance of the Toronto Zoo on Thursday at 11am

 

April 28 National Day of Mourning

Since 2010, the Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Public Library Workers Union have collaborated on the development of an annual public education campaign for one week annually in conjunction with the National Day of Mourning on April 28.

This year’s program, "Can Work Be Safe When Home Isn't" was held on April 27 in the Norman G. Hinton Learning Theatre at the Toronto Reference Library.   

The keynote speaker was Barb MacQuarrie, the Community Director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women & Children in the Faculty of Education at the Western University.  Barb coordinated the first national Canadian study on the impacts of domestic violence on workers and the workplace and she holds a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant to study the impact of violence on workers and the workplace internationally.  She is a recipient of the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest official honour, recognizing individual excellence and achievement.

Excellent Resources for Further Reading/Learning

Learning to End Abuse 

Make it Our Business

Read the latest about staff-less libraries

Library Union Prepares to Fight Staffless Pilot Project: The Toronto Public Library is planning to extend opening hours at some branches by replacing staffwith security cameras, Tannara Yelland, The Torontoist

Credit: Photo by Evan Russell