‘We’ve had members lose fingers... and the list goes on’
Library safety in Saskatchewan has become a flashpoint between the provincial government, the Opposition NDP and the union representing library staff, amid growing concern over workplace risks in public libraries.
The latest dispute stems from comments by Social Services Minister Terry Jenson, who was asked this week whether he planned to visit libraries that have experienced a series of violent incidents. In remarks reported by CTV News, Jenson framed the situation as primarily a law enforcement matter and compared it to retail work.
“They’ve raised the concern, that it’s a law enforcement issue. If they’re feeling harmed, it’d be no different than, you know, if somebody’s feeling harmed. Working at 7-Eleven. You know, does that mean I should go talk to the individual at the 7-Eleven?” he told reporters following question period on Tuesday.
The Saskatchewan NDP condemned the response and publicly challenged Jenson to work a shift at Saskatoon’s downtown library. NDP Leader Carla Beck said the comments were “embarrassing” and argued they showed the minister “neither understands nor takes seriously the concerns of library workers,” pointing to “persistent and escalating concerns when it comes to the violence that library workers are facing,” according to CTV News.
Safety investments
The issue returned to the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, where Jenson read a prepared statement stressing the government’s stance on public and workplace safety.
“Our government takes all matters of public and workplace safety to of the utmost importance. This is why our government has made significant investments into street outreach programs, funding additional police officers, alternative response officers and complex needs facilities ... We’re working on 500 more treatment spaces across the province. As I said yesterday in the media scrum, Mr. Speaker, violence in the workplace is completely, completely unacceptable, no matter the workplace,” he said, as reported by CTV News.
When NDP members repeated their challenge for Jenson to work in a Saskatoon library, he did not answer directly. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lorri Carr responded instead, telling the chamber, “I know that my colleague would be more than happy to do that. And he has confirmed with me that he would.”
CTV News reported that neither Jenson nor Carr were available to media after question period, and no additional details were provided on potential new safety measures for library workers.
Union and employer differ over machete incident
CUPE Saskatchewan, which represents many library staff, has cited a series of incidents to underline its concerns, including overdoses in branches, staff assaults and an instance in which a library worker reportedly evaded a kidnapping attempt while walking to their car.
CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson linked pressures on libraries to homelessness and addiction. “Those folks are coming into the library because they have no other place to go. There aren’t supports and services available for them in other places outside of Saskatoon. We’ve had members lose fingers because of machete attacks, and the list goes on. Sometimes police are involved, sometimes they’re not,” he said Tuesday, in comments reported by CTV News.
The Regina Public Library (RPL) later issued a statement clarifying that the machete incident Peterson referred to occurred in 2023, involved a member of the public rather than staff, and began outside before moving into the entrance, before being turned over to Regina Police Service.
Peterson acknowledged the specific case had been miscommunicated but maintained it still illustrates the impact on workers. “It impacted our members. Folks that work in those places or near those places that see that happening, that has a psychological impact,” he said. “It creates a dangerous workplace for them and so it was raised as an example of the types of stuff that we’re seeing across the province.”
