Families march in support of striking library staff

Sarah Elworthy WITH FILES FROM Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

sarah@qctonline.com

Quebec City library workers and concerned library users took to the streets June 7 for a family march focused on putting pressure on the city to settle negotiations between the Institut canadien de Québec (ICQ), the nonprofit mandated by the city to run the library system, and Travailleurs et Travailleuses unis de l’alimentation et du commerce (TUAC 501) members, who have been on strike since March 1, closing most of the city’s libraries.

The march, which began at the Saint-Charles Library in Limoilou and ended at the Gabrielle-Roy Library, drew between 300-400 people, according to Coun. Jackie Smith, leader of Transition Québec and councillor for Limoilou, who organized the march. 

Smith announced to the crowd that since the beginning of the strike, she has received more than 2,000 emails from concerned citizens standing in solidarity with striking workers. Citizens who gathered after the march were in an uproar when Smith shared that the city budget had a surplus of $50 million this past year. She questioned why the ICQ, which is financed by the Ville de Québec, isn’t in a position to pay library staff more for the valuable services they provide.

Smith went on to say the library is an extremely important space for the community, in that it is one of the only spaces people can rest, read and gather without spending money. Smith encouraged striking employees to not give up until their needs were met. In a conversation with the QCT, Smith added that there were other unions negotiating with the city whose membership is mainly male, while the membership of TUAC 501 is mostly female.   

Quebec City resident Linda Rose Dumont came out to support library workers, as she marched with friends. Dumont told the QCT that even though she doesn’t use the library much herself, she believes it provides an important social space which supports inclusivity and diversity. Marcher Louisette Béland said she knows many people who spend hours in the library. “Sure, we can have access at home to books, [magazines] and media, but the social aspect is missing – and it’s important,” she said.

Manon Gauthier, chief delegate of unionized employees for the ICQ, thanked the members of the English-speaking community for their patience during the strike. “We understand you must miss having access to your library. Thank you if you have signed to support strikers on the TUAC 501 website; thank you for marching with us today. Rest assured we are looking forward to returning to work.”  

TUAC spokesperson Roxane Larouche told the QCT that members will vote on a proposed collective agreement June 14. A previous proposal was narrowly rejected last month.

The Gabrielle-Roy Library, the Étienne-Parent Library in Beauport and the Monique-Corriveau Library in Sainte-Foy are open with reduced hours during the strike. The Morrin Centre Library is administered by a separate organization and not affected by the strike.

With files from Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter