The Essex County Library Board has asked the Ministry of Labour to hold a supervised vote on its latest offer for striking library workers.
"They've maintained since the beginning that our members are not informed," says CUPE Local 2974 spokeswoman Lori Wightman. "This vote should clear that up once and for all. We've been completely transparent from the beginning."
Wightman says the request was made earlier this week, so she anticipates the vote will take place sometime next week, but she doubts it will change anything.
"I believe that they'll reject it," she says. "That's the mandate and the message they've been giving the bargaining team, and myself since day one."
A date for the vote has not been secured, but it has to take place within ten days of the request.
The two sides in the dispute met with a conciliator last Friday, but still couldn't reach a deal, and Wightman says there are no new talks planned. She believes the board will call the union back to the bargaining table soon after the vote.