Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) and the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) bargaining unit that represents 163 FVRL non-management staff members are at an impasse in their wage negotiations, which began 15 months ago.
Negotiations stalled after the WPEA filed a grievance in February against FVRL for failing to honor contract language. The WPEA also plans to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, which will conduct an arbitration hearing.
The two sides are currently in mediation. They met July 2 and are planning another meeting for Aug. 20.
FVRL executive Amelia Shelley said FVRL is “ready and willing to come back to the bargaining table” and that the agency “wants to do right by the employees.”
“This has been difficult,” Shelley said. “We don’t want to be in this situation. We want to have a good relationship with our employees. I’d say we’re doing the best we can. Being a good employer is important to us. We also have a responsibility to the taxpayers. Whatever we do must be sustainable for the district in the long term, and that’s important to the employees as well.”