The war of words between striking Thunder Bay Public Library workers and library CEO Richard Togman continues, with both sides offering different accounts of compensation, benefits and the path back to the bargaining table.

Workers represented by CUPE Local 8718 have been without a new collective agreement for more than a year and say they are fighting a series of proposed concessions that would reduce benefits they have long relied upon.

The union is opposing changes that include reductions to sick leave and vacation entitlements, changes to retirement benefits and adjustments to health coverage that could require employees to pay a greater share of costs.

Union disputes Togman’s letter

Speaking with the Acadia newsroom on Tuesday, representatives of the two CUPE locals on strike pushed back against claims made by Togman in a public letter shared Monday.

They specifically disputed his claim that librarians receive a total compensation package averaging about $100,000 annually when salary, benefits and pension contributions are included. 

Lisa Steenerson, a national representative with CUPE, said union officials dispute the figure and argue workers have not been provided enough information about benefit costs to verify the library’s calculations. She said the union is seeking additional disclosure regarding benefit plan details and may pursue the matter through the labour board.

“We actually had one of our librarians confirm what she made last year in 2025. It was under $100,000,” Steenerson said. “[Togman] is not a truthful person and he is putting people on strike because of his own egotistical self. He’s worried about getting donations for the Waverly Library to make it look even fancier than it needs to.”

Steenerson continued her criticism of Togman during his visit to the library Tuesday, days after confronting him at the mayoral forum at the Mary J. L. Black branch of the library in a viral video posted to Facebook. She wore a hat evoking Lord Farquaad and repeatedly referred to him as “Little Richard” during their exchanges.

“It was unfortunate that I had to go track him down, but if you’re not really going to do your job, then I’m going to come and find you to make you do your job,” Steenerson said.

James Czank, a community facilitator at the library and member of the bargaining committee, also rejected the compensation figures, saying librarians are earning “substantially below” $100,000 annually and that some library workers make less than $30,000 a year.

Czank said workers’ concerns centre increasingly on benefits, arguing that the employer’s bargaining proposals included concessions such as reduced time off and increased benefit costs in exchange for relatively small wage increases. He characterized the strike as a fight for a “fair deal.”

The union says that communication between the parties has largely stalled since workers walked off the job. Steenerson said the library indicated it might bring forward a proposal earlier this week, but the union has not received further communication.

Czank said workers remain willing to return to negotiations if management presents what they view as a meaningful offer.

Togman responds

Togman defended the compensation figures in an interview with the Acadia newsroom on Tuesday.

He argued that much of the public discussion has focused on salaries while overlooking employer-paid benefits and pension contributions. He said those costs add roughly 30% to employees’ base wages and should be included when assessing overall compensation.

“That’s where I think there’s a little bit of misunderstanding. Their total compensation package is made up of those three elements, some of which are obvious on every paycheck and some of which are not,” he said.

Togman said the library is open to different compensation arrangements, provided the overall cost remains the same.

“At the end of the day, it’s really up to the union how they want that pay distributed. We’re happy to pay them more salary and less benefits, or more benefits and less salary, higher pension contributions.”

He added that the library’s overall compensation budget is limited by funding approved by the city.

“We want to give them everything that we can. We just can’t give them more than what we have,” he said. “We’re constrained by the budget we get from the city, and we want to respect taxpayer dollars. We can’t go into deficit. We can’t take out a loan to pay staff.”

The CEO also responded to criticism over funds invested in ongoing renovation projects, including a major makeover of the Waverley Library. Togman said capital funding received for renovations legally cannot be redirected to wages, benefits or pensions.

“When we get funding from the city or the federal or provincial government, they’re generally earmarked for specific capital projects. It would be illegal for us to divert those funds to staff.”

On the status of negotiations, Togman described communications as “a little bit frosty” since the strike began. He said the library remains willing to return to the table but maintains that any settlement must remain within its financial limits.

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided when available.