Libraries across Vancouver are behind picket lines Thursday morning.

CUPE Local 391, which represents about 900 library staff, asked its members on Wednesday to report to picket duty on Thursday morning.

The Vancouver Public Library has 22 branches across the city. The Joe Fortes branch downtown and the Britannia branch in Vancouver East were already closed Monday because they are attached to community centres picketed by outside workers.

No new talks have been scheduled to end the civic strike in Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver, despite Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan's move to get the two sides back to the bargaining table.

Vancouver's public libraries are behind picket lines Thursday morning
(CBC)

As the civic strike in Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver enters its sixth day, Sullivan issued a press release Wednesday morning saying he's inspired by a tentative, five-year deal reached by the City of Richmond and its civic workers on Monday.

Sullivan said a five-year deal would meet his conditions that there will be labour peace during the 2010 Winter Olympics and no collective bargaining during a civic election.

Keith Graham, chief negotiator for CUPE Local 15, which represents 3,500 striking Vancouver inside workers, said Wednesday evening that the union feels Sullivan's move was positive and called the mayor's office in response.

"We've actually gone ahead and booked a space at a local hotel in town, hoping that the mayor would accept the invitation," Graham told CBC News.

But Jerry Dobrovolny, a spokesman for the City of Vancouver, said the union needs to show some movement in its position before the city will schedule talks.

"What we've said is that if the union is prepared to come back with a realistic and affordable position, then we're certainly prepared to consider it," Dobrovolny said.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said Wednesday morning that he wants the two sides back at the bargaining table.
(CBC)

"Those discussions have just started now, and they're trying to work out the details of getting back to the table," he said.

Sullivan said he would like city negotiators to reopen talks with CUPE using the Richmond agreement as a starting point. Details of the Richmond agreement won't be disclosed until union members finish voting on it Wednesday and Thursday.

Richmond outside workers ratified deal

On Wednesday evening, members of CUPE Local 394, representing Richmond's 350 outside workers, voted 96 per cent in favour of the contract, which includes a 17.5 per cent salary increase over five years.

Union president Dave Shapiro said he's excited by the result, and it's the best collective agreement his local has ever had.

Richmond's 950 inside workers, represented by CUPE Local 718, will vote on the same contract proposal Thursday.

The civic strike in Vancouver enters its seventh day Thursday, with no new talks scheduled.

The five-year term could clinch a deal even though the city earlier floated a five-year deal but CUPE said no, Sullivan said, though CUPE BC president Barry O'Neill said no such proposal was made.

"I'm very hopeful that this may result in a settlement," Sullivan told reporters Wednesday morning.

5-year term never proposed: union

CUPE BC president Barry O'Neill said the city never suggested a five-year agreement.

"We haven't dealt with it. I haven't seen it," O'Neill said.

CUPE locals 1004 and 15 last week rejected a 39-month deal that the city described as its last offer.

Each time another municipality reaches a new agreement with its workers, there's more pressure on Vancouver and its workers to start negotiating again, he said.

"I'll say today what I've said before — CUPE is always willing to negotiate and a shift in term is a positive step forward, but there is a lot more to a collective agreement than wage and term."