Re-opening of Gabriel-Roi Library canceled due to imminent strike

Faced with an imminent strike by municipal library workers, Quebec City has decided to cancel the festivities surrounding the reopening of the Gabriel-Roy library.^R Until March 3. This repeal will cost taxpayers $60,000, defrauding Mayor Marchand.

This was informed in a press release issued by the municipal administration on Tuesday morning.

240 employees of the Canadian Institute of Quebec (ICQ), the body responsible for managing 26 libraries in Quebec, rejected an “enhanced final offer” Sunday evening to renew their collective agreement.

So they will go on an indefinite general strike from Friday^R March, the celebrations should have started on the same day.

The system is impossible

“In the current context of labor negotiations between the Canadian Institute of Quebec and its employees, the announcement of an indefinite general strike by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) makes it possible to plan and hold the festivities,” the city's press release said.

“The situation does not allow people to fully use the organized activities and discover its central library. The city is forced to cancel the festivities to reopen to the public.

Last Tuesday, Quebec's mayor, Bruno Marchant, promised that the festivities would go ahead with or without a strike. Then he argues, “The opening ceremony should take place. It is a great work done in this library (…) There may be picket lines, but because of picket lines we cannot go anywhere. ”

On Tuesday, Mr. Marchant said he was “disappointed” in the turn of events, but didn't believe he was too optimistic. “We're going to reopen on Thursday. The union decided to use pressure tactics on Friday with the Canadian company. That disappoints me. They have the right. But it disappoints me because we're all working for the same reason: to put the library in the hands of citizens so they can see it. . […] But I stand by what I said. We will have an opening ceremony on Thursday. At least we can show it to the media and show the beauty of this place through you.

$60,000 confirmed

The initial budget for the celebrations was $300,000. From 1^R On March 3, people were invited to celebrate the reopening. Famous artists and personalities – Dior Le Coyote, Marina Orsini, Riccardo Troggi and Vincent Vallieres – must have been at the helm.

“Currently, the estimated budget loss is 1/5 of the amount allocated for programming activities, or approximately $60,000,” the City of Quebec notes.

In addition, the Marchant administration will communicate with the public afterward to inform the public of the contingency measures being taken at Quebec libraries to minimize the impact of service disruptions on citizens.

Mr. Marchand pointed out that resuming the opening ceremonies at another time “wouldn't be the same way”. No decision has been taken in this regard.

– In collaboration with Stephanie Martin