After nearly a year of sometimes tense negotiations, the workers of the Prince Edward County Public Library have formed a union and signed their first contract.

During budget deliberations, the Library asked for $167,000 more over last year’s budget to cover increases in pay, benefits, and costs related to the unionization of its staff. The amount includes $40,000 in anticipated legal fees.

CEO Barbara Sweet noted increased wages and benefits would increase costs by 3.5 percent. 

Sandy Murray, the library’s Chair of Finance, said the library has followed the CUPE grid for wages since amalgamation. The grid is now a cornerstone of the new contract.

“The library board is very pleased to be able to offer the OMERS pension plan at long last to our to our staff,” noted Ms. Sweet. The plan was negotiated by the union for a new contract to begin in January. The plan adds $87,800 to the Library budget.

Contract negotiations took the greater part of this year. The union and the library only came to a settlement agreement through conciliation in November. 

New Local 5562 President Adam Cavanaugh said, “we are facing new challenges brought on by the high cost of living, lack of adequate housing and the social struggles these issues contribute to. This agreement will give us – the frontline service providers – a greater ability to work together with management to meet these challenges, improve services and provide the best library experience for our patrons.”

“Our people are our greatest strength,” said Ms. Sweet. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that continues to recognize the talent, dedication and hard work of our staff while positioning the library for long term success in serving our community.”

Last year, the library increased its professional services budget by $35,000, to $55,700, attributing the one-time increase to the legal costs of negotiations with a newly unionized staff for the first time in its history.

At the time, Mr. Murray suggested that this expense would recur every fourth year, when contract negotiations occur.

But the library anticipates similar legal costs again next year. Fine contract details are still in the works, and pay equity is also an issue. Mr. Murray noted, “the CUPE negotiations were challenging. We expect to have to spend an equal amount on a pay equity consultant and legal fees again this year.”

Ms. Sweet stated, “this is our first year with the collective agreement so we felt that it was prudent to have some insurance to address any issues that may occur over the year.

Mr. Murray anticipates that this year’s figure of $60,000 in professional services, which includes the anticipated legal fees, should return to a normalized $30,000 in 2026.