Toronto’s Library Workers on Strike After Talks Fail
Toronto library workers will hit the picket lines on Monday, following a weekend of failed negotiations with the library board.
The city’s 98 library branches will close until a new contract is finalized, affecting approximately 2,300 employees.
Over the weekend, talks between the Toronto Public Library and its union stalled at the bargaining table. CUPE Local 4948, the Toronto Library Workers Union, is walking off the job after several unsuccessful attempts to protect the job security of its employees.
Read More: What the Labour Disruption Means; What’s Closed at the TPL?
In January, Rob Ford’s budget passed with $3.9-million, or ten per cent, in cuts to Toronto Public Libraries.
But, that’s not all. Since 2011, 107 full-time jobs and 22 per cent of their part-time workers were laid off. Yikes. To make matters even more interesting, Librarians have been working without a contract since Jan. 1. How long will the strike last? Over/under on whether this picketing will last longer than the notorious 2009 Toronto garbage strike?
Jack’s By-Election: the Battle for Jack Layton’s Riding Ends Today
The battle over who will become the next Toronto-Danforth MP will be announced after a by-election Monday.
This post, left vacant following the death of NDP party leader Jack Layton, has transformed into a site of political contention. However, experts say the seat will likely stay in the NDP’s clutches. Layton held the seat for seven years before his died from cancer last summer, at the age of 61. Prior to Layton’s reign, the riding was famously held by the Liberals.
Though this by-election carries little impact in the face of national politics, holding on to the seat carries symbolic weight for the NDP, which has suffered decreased public support since Layton’s passing.
With candidates from each of the four parties in the running, as well as eight independents, 75,000 eligible voters will have a lot of choice. The by-election polls will close at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Apple’s Money ‘Problems’ – The Ever-Popular Tech Monolith to Announce Fate of its $98-Billion Surplus
On Monday, Apple will finally answer how they plan to solve their money ‘problems.’ Earlier, in February, the ever-popular tech monolith announced at a shareholders’ meeting that they had ‘too much money,’ and were, in fact, sitting on a $98-Billion surplus.
Read More: On Steve Jobs Birthday, Apple Claims to Have ‘Too Much Money’
Now, after much speculation over whether the company will re-instate a dividend to its shareholders – something the company has not done since its financial woes in 1995 – Apple announced plans to hold a conference call on Monday to share their decision on how to manage this hoard of cash.
According to ISI Group analyst Brian Marshall, the world’s biggest company holds $98-Billion in cash and securities, equal to approximately $104 a share. Riding on the strength of the iPad 3’s release last week, Apple’s stock hit $600 per share, yet another record high.
The company closed at $585.57 a share last week, and its market value currently sits at a measly $546-Million. Not too shabby, I guess.
Read More: Apple Stock Leaps to Record High of $500-Billion with iPad 3 Announcement
Read More: Mike Kolberg Breaks it Down: There is a New iPad
21 Jump Street a Box Office Smash, and a Smashed Jonah Hill Skinny Dips with Channing Tatum
This weekend, 21 Jump Street earned an estimated $35-Million at the box office. Not bad for the $45-Million R-rated buddy comedy inspired by the 80s television show of the same name.
But, the creative face of the film, actor-writer-producer Jonah Hill, could have landed himself in some hot – err, probably very, very cold – water during the movie’s promotional tour.
On Sunday, co-star and co-producer Channing Tatum admitted he and Hill had quite the debaucherous press tour. In fact, while in Miami, Tatum’s old stomping grounds, the two went skinny dipping at midnight, after which, Hill tried to run straight through the beach to get a midnight snack. Luckily for Hill, Tatum grabbed him, and forced him to get dressed.
“I stopped him and I drug (sic) him into the car and now he’s nicknamed Baby Jonah because I had to dress him like a mom,” said Tatum. “I was like, ‘No, no, bad Jonah, no… Butt up… OK, we can go in now!'”
Ah, bros will be bros. Besides, who wouldn’t want to skinny dip with Channing Tatum? The man’s an Adonis.
But really, see 21 Jump Street. It was hilarious.
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Joanna Adams writes the Morning Cable, and lots more, for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at †@nowstarringTO.
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