Shelved librarians back on the job

LIBRARIANS who sought help from the union after being stood down from Gold Coast City Council libraries during COVID-19 restrictions are now back at work.

The Services Union lead organiser Ben Jones said it was “a very good outcome”.

Mr Jones said that last month the union lodged appeals in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission on behalf of City of Gold Coast libraries members seeking that their stand-downs be rescinded.

“Due to easing of pandemic restrictions and libraries having been allowed to reopen since last month, our union could see no reason why any library staff should not be back at work,” he said.

“We’re happy to report that following the QIRC hearing, all members who sought a return are now back at work, and a lot sooner than if our union had not intervened.

“We filed a notice of discontinue last week following the result that all of our members in the Gold Coast City Council libraries who were seeking a return to work are now back at work.”

Mr Jones said most librarians were frontline staff who just wanted to be back at work “serving their communities and making relationships with customers rather than just being at home”.

“I guess the message is that all workers have rights and the Services Union is very keen to make sure that our members are aware of that,” he said.

A city spokeswoman said: “The Services Union discontinued their application on Wednesday 24 June, 2020.”

The council’s 12 libraries are open for click and collect but aren’t opening their doors so people can browse the book collection in person until July 11.