Essex County socks away $790K saved during library strike

Money saved during the eight-month library strike in Essex County will be socked away in a reserve fund to be used for library projects.

County council approved the decision to hang onto the $790,000 Tuesday night.

Five members of council, including the mayors from Essex, Leamington and Amherstburg wanted the money to come back to the municipalities, but the politicians decided to save the cash for future library use.

"I am a little frustrated I guess, disappointed and frustrated," said Leamington Mayor John Paterson after the meeting. " I believe that all the municipalities have the capacity to handle their money in a responsible way. That's our money, let us have it back."

Paterson says he would have liked the town's share of money to pay for upgrades to the Leamington library branch.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara voted with the majority to keep the money in a county fund.

"It makes sense. I mean, to turn around and just basically give a cheque to the municipalities to me is not the right way to go," he said. "We need to continue to have those services."

Long, cold strike

58 Canadian Union of Public Employee members walked off the job in June last year, hitting the picket lines for what proved to be a lengthy strike.

After spending many chilly days protesting throughout the winter, workers finally agreed to a new collective agreement in February.