CUPE Local 503 members have played a vital role in transforming the Ottawa Public Library into the major informational, educational and cultural resource that it has become over the years in the National Capital region
The Ottawa Public Library opened its doors on April 30, 1906 and is the largest bilingual library (English and French) in North America. Today there are thirty-three library branches across the city, plus two bookmobiles and a large outreach service.
Ottawa was one of the first communities in Ontario to offer free public library services to all.
The Ottawa Public Library has over 600 employees. Since December 15, 1993, when members of the former Ottawa Public Library Employees’ Association approved a merger, they have been represented by CUPE Local 503, the Ottawa-Carleton Public Employees’ Union.
Presently our membership faces the challenge of staff redundancies due to the implementation of RFID. We finished bargaining at the beginning of July and our committee feels it has put forward good language that will protect the membership’s job security.