Leamington Mayor John Paterson December 10, 2014. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)Leamington Mayor John Paterson December 10, 2014. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Windsor

No Book Exchange For Leamington During Strike

If the Essex County Library Board might want to open county libraries on a rotating basis, but the mayor of Leamington is saying no thanks.

John Paterson has written board chair, Richard Meloche a letter asking to leave Leamington's branch out of its book exchange, saying no good will come of it.

"There's a lot of ill will between the two parties," he says. "I don't think it's going to help."

The board announced its plan after striking library workers rejected its latest offer in a supervised vote earlier this month. The plan doesn't include full service. Managers will open the branches for book exchange only.

However, Paterson is certain municipalities have the power to stop the library board.

"We do have the power. The building is ours."

Paterson says he doesn't expect other municipalities to follow Leamington's example.

The strike by library workers over plans to move to a third-party insurer for sick time enters its sixth month on Christmas Day.

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