Public librarians had a tough year working from home in a profession that relied on personal service and contact. For some, there was vacation and uncertainty about how, when, or whether jobs would return to normal.
These are some of the reasons why Worthington Libraries staff want to unionize – an attempt which, if successful, would make it the first library system in Franklin County to do so.
In a letter sent to the board on Friday, a group called WPL United said they “want to build a stronger library for our customers and a fairer place to work” and “call for voluntary recognition by our union.”
Organizers say the pandemic challenges have demonstrated how valued libraries are and how dedicated the staff is to providing services.
Tara Shiman, a youth services librarian at the Old Worthington Library branch, said on the group’s Twitter feed, “I organize because I believe that only when the staff come together can truly positive change happen, our voices are heard and have a real say in politics, pay, health care and general working conditions. “
In particular, the letter says, organizers want a voice in policies and decisions that affect them; an end to arbitrary changes in working conditions; Respect and fair pay; and “meaningful input” into the future of the library.
The Worthington three-branch system has 180 employees when fully occupied, said Chuck Gibson, library director and CEO.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” Gibson said of the letter. He said there had not been a single incident or issue that he was aware of to fuel demand.
“We are discussing the possible next steps with library management and the library board,” he said.
Gibson has called a Zoom meeting for Wednesday at 7 p.m., where the board will likely discuss the issue in a closed board meeting as it involves personnel matters and labor negotiations.
The library staff works with the Ohio Federation of Teachers, which represents 20,000 active or retired public employees, mainly teachers and public employees. This is the first library in Ohio to join this association.
Nationwide, about 25% of librarians were unionized last year, according to the Department for Professional Employees with the AFL / CIO. According to 2018 data from the Washington, DC-based organization, union librarians typically earn 38% higher salaries than non-union librarians.
Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, said there were 30 collective agreements between Ohio’s 251 public libraries. These include libraries in Dayton, Lima, and Greene Counties. Some library systems have more than one agreement.
According to the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), there are no centralized branch systems in Ohio that are unionized.
Coleman Mahler, an adult services librarian at the Northwest Library branch in Worthington, said in a written statement from Teachers Union: “We love our jobs and we love the library. Now we are calling for a voice in politics that affects us, autonomy in our working conditions and a library that works as hard for us as it does for our community. “
An “overwhelming majority” of Worthington library staff signed union cards, copies of which the teachers’ union said had been delivered to the Worthington Library Administration. The original cards are submitted to the SERB to apply for voluntary recognition by the union, according to a statement by the Union.
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