City councillor challenges senior administration’s public messaging and board oversight as the library strike and retiree-benefit dispute continue

THUNDER BAY — November 4, 2026 — City Councillor Trevor Giertuga has resigned from the Thunder Bay Public Library Board, citing fundamental disagreements over labour relations, public communications and oversight of senior administration.

His resignation email, dated Monday, November 2, states that his departure from the Board took effect immediately. Giertuga remains a member of Thunder Bay City Council, however he won’t be on the next council.

“I fundamentally disagree with the approach of conducting labour negotiations through public correspondence, the media, or attempts to influence public opinion while collective bargaining is ongoing,” Giertuga wrote.

He said disagreements between management and employees should be addressed at the bargaining table, where successful negotiations depend on respect, trust and meaningful discussion.

Giertuga singled out recent correspondence from senior administration, saying its tone and content had damaged his confidence in the approach being taken.

“In my view, several statements were unnecessarily charged, lacked important context, and did not fully or accurately reflect the facts,” he wrote.

He also raised concerns about how that correspondence was authorized.

Giertuga said it was his understanding that it had been distributed without the prior knowledge or approval of the Board or its chair. He described the response to the resulting governance questions as insufficient.

The councillor called for clear accountability, appropriate oversight of senior administration and additional governance education to help the Board and its chief executive understand their respective responsibilities.

An October 19 email exchange included with the resignation correspondence shows Giertuga had already challenged library CEO Richard Togman’s description of early-retirement benefits.

“Early retirement isn’t a luxury, it isn’t quitting their jobs, it’s a bargained entitlement!!” Giertuga wrote, urging a return to the bargaining table.

In the earlier message, Togman argued that existing benefit provisions were too expensive for the library to sustain. He put annual compensation for a full-time librarian under the CUPE 87-18 agreement at more than $100,000, including salary, health and dental benefits and employer pension contributions.

CUPE told NetNewsLedger that there are provisions in the current agreement where a Librarian could earn almost $100,000 annually, but there are currently no librarians at that level.

CEO Togman also criticized provisions allowing eligible employees to retire at 55 and retain employer-paid health benefits until 65. He described management’s offer as protecting pensions and health coverage while providing higher wages and improved disability benefits, alongside changes intended to keep the library within its budget.

Giertuga’s departure adds a board-governance dispute to the benefits controversy covered in NetNewsLedger’s report earlier today.

In its November 3 statement, CUPE alleged employee benefits were terminated the day before the strike began and that retirees were also affected. The union said retirees received no warning and some discovered the interruption when paying for prescriptions or medical services.

CUPE Local 3120 president Margaret Demillo said coverage was restored Monday, November 2, after public criticism. She said retirees should not be drawn into a dispute involving current employees.

“Retirees are not on strike, and their benefits should be off limits,” Demillo said.

As President of CUPE 3120 Margaret Demillo says that she is hopeful other board members will continue to speak out against senior management actions.

Togman disputes the union’s timeline. In today’s NetNewsLedger report, he said the library notified its benefits provider of the strike on October 15 and the provider confirmed processing that notice on October 16.

He attributed the interruption affecting current early retirees to an insurance-provider error that had been resolved. Togman said those retirees would retain normal access to their existing benefits and could submit claims through the usual process.

CUPE also maintains that it has offered to cover striking workers’ benefits but has been unable to obtain the Library Board’s co-operation. CUPE 87 president Deryk Fournier said union representatives spent 10 hours at the bargaining table on the final day of talks trying to avoid a strike.

The union has questioned whether the alleged benefit changes violated Ontario’s Labour Relations Act. Employers and unions have a legal duty to bargain in good faith and make reasonable efforts to reach an agreement.

CUPE’s release does not report a labour board ruling finding that the library broke the law.

The dispute involves more than 70 employees, according to CUPE. Local 3120 represents library assistants, technicians, maintenance, cleaning, information technology and other staff. Local 87-18 represents seven full-time librarians.

CUPE said more than 120 people attended a support rally on October 29. It continues to call for renewed negotiations and withdrawal of proposed concessions.

Giertuga emphasized that his resignation was not a criticism of library employees or the services they provide. He expressed respect for both and wished all parties a fair and respectful resolution.

NetNewsLedger has reached out to Library management for comment.