Unions, management grapple with COVID-19 concessions [Video]

A second conciliation meeting between the Nova Scotia Union of Public and Private Employees and the Halifax Public Libraries ended Sunday without a deal.

“It was definitely not what we wanted at the end of the day. We do not like that we are closed, we want to be open providing service to our community,” says library services advisor Dominique Nielsen.

Now 340 employees are on the picket line.

“We are just hoping to get the most collaboration, co-operation, and support from the members of the public. We know that we are very sad that the library is closed. We have seen some great support,” says Nielsen.

Many unions have gone to the streets lately. Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City locked out workers last week, grinding cargo shipments to a halt. WestJet mechanics went on strike for two days over the Canada Day long weekend. Air Canada pilots just voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike mandate that could come into effect on Sept. 17.

“The …