Last week, Vancouver City Council unanimously supported COPE Councillor Orr’s motion to expand access to our city’s public libraries. CUPE 391 is in favour of advocacy that recognizes libraries as vital community hubs and highlights Council’s recognition that a strong public library system requires appropriate government investment.
During debate of the motion, concerning amendments were made by ABC that directly reference library workers and our union. The amendments and related discussion by some council members about the staffing issues at Vancouver Public Library was misdirected and demonstrated incomplete information. The amended motion can be found here:
REPORT TO COUNCIL – STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON CITY FINANCE AND SERVICES – MAY 21, 2025
CUPE 391 members are committed to providing library services for the communities in which we live and work; we are not the cause of reduced library hours. Solutions to an underfunded system lay with prioritizing stable funding, not reducing library workers’ rights.
I have already spoken with Councillor Fry, Councillor Maloney, and Councillor Orr about our concerns, and I welcome further conversations with other members of Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver Public Library Board who are invested in working together to strengthen our public library system.
Amir Abbey
President, CUPE Local 391
Vancouver, Gibsons, and Sechelt Public Library Workers