Chilliwack Library. (Image Credit: FVRL.)

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Labour agreement

FVRL announces last-resort lockout averted for libraries in Chilliwack, Abbotsford

Mar 5, 2026 | 12:09 PM

ABBOTSFORD/CHILLIWACK – The Fraser Valley Regional Library announced Thursday morning (Mar. 5) that a lockout has been averted after reaching a tentative agreement with the union representing over 300 library workers at over 20 FVRL branches.

According to a statement from the library system, CUPE 1698 members have tentatively accepted the terms of a new labour deal that features a 13 per cent wage increase over four years.

The tentative deal, while still subject to a vote from unionized members and the FVRL board, grants members a four per cent pay increase in 2025, and three per cent boosts in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

FVRL says it worked to address the union’s stated concern with the third-year wage increase while also working to address FVRL’s stated concern with a two-year term, meaning that the parties would be renegotiating the entire collective agreement again in a matter of months.

FVRL says the new proposal will create service stability “for our communities and certainty for FVRL and FVRL staff to fiscal 2029 on wages and benefits.”

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“We thank our communities and FVRL staff for their understanding and support during these challenging times,” FVRL said.