10/16/2026
Today is Canadian Library Workers' Day! 📚❤️
And while today should be about celebrating the incredible workers who keep our public libraries running, I want to take a moment to recognize the more than 70 library workers in Thunder Bay who are currently ON STRIKE.
Members of CUPE 3120 and CUPE 87 have been fighting for a fair collective agreement, while their employer continues to push concessions that would roll back benefits and working conditions.
Let's talk about why this matters.
Public libraries are so much more than buildings filled with books. They're community hubs. They're places where children discover a love of reading, seniors find connection, students access resources, newcomers receive support, and people who might not otherwise have access to technology or the internet can participate in their communities.
And none of that happens without library workers.
These are the people who make our libraries welcoming, accessible, safe, and inclusive. They're the backbone of an essential public service that benefits everyone, regardless of income or background.
As municipal workers, we know that strong public services depend on the workers who deliver them. You cannot claim to value public libraries while simultaneously undermining the people who keep them operating.
And with municipal elections just around the corner, this is an important reminder that the decisions made by municipal leaders and library boards have real consequences for workers and communities.
Today, I'm sending solidarity to every library worker across Ontario, but especially to our CUPE siblings walking the picket lines in Thunder Bay.
Supporting public libraries means supporting library workers. Period.
Please take a minute today to stand in solidarity with these workers and send a message to the Thunder Bay Public Library Board demanding a fair deal.
✊ An injury to one is an injury to all!
📚 Take action here:
https://cupe.ca/campaign/thunder-bay-public-library-workers-need-our-help
