Media Release: Professional Employees Association and Okanagan Regional Library reach a collective agreement

The Okanagan Regional Library and Professional Employees Association are pleased to announce that they have successfully completed negotiations and have a new collective agreement.  This new agreement, which the ORL Board and PEA members have ratified, runs for three years ending December 31, 2023.  The key terms include combined wage and benefit-cost increases totalling 2% in each of these three years.

Both the Library and its professional Librarians who PEA represents felt it was important to reach a longer-term agreement with the uncertainty related to the pandemic. This new agreement is in line with other collective agreements in the public sector. It ensures that the Library and its staff can continue to focus all efforts on providing excellent Library service to all of our communities.

 

About the PEA

The PEA is a union of and for professional employees. PEA bargaining units consist entirely or mostly of professionals — people whose work typically requires that they have earned at least one university degree. The PEA was certified to represent Librarians work at the Okanagan Regional Library in 1988. PEA Librarians possess a master’s degree from an ALA accredited program.

 

About the ORL

Established in 1936, the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) is the 16th largest library system in Canada, serving over 400,000 residents through 31 branches. It covers 59,600 square kilometres of some of the most beautiful territories in BC, stretching from Golden in the Rockies to Osoyoos in the heart of the Okanagan wine and fruit growing areas and Princeton in the Similkameen. The system is staffed by energetic and committed people who have begun the shift to a more learning and technology-focused service.

 

Media Contact:

Brett Harper, Senior Communications Officer

250-385-8791 ext. 206

778-587-7397