Dear Fellow Staff Member,

We are writing you today to update you on the drive to secure union representation at MCPL.  On September 12th, the MCPL Board of Trustees held a work session to discuss the desire of MCPL for union representation.  At this meeting, the board reviewed the proposed method for union recognition submitted by the organizing committee to the board in May.  They discussed this openly and invited an AFSCME representative to the table in order to better understand the proposal.  We all felt that this discussion was positive, and the members of the organizing committee came away encouraged by the board’s willingness to treat staff desires for union representation seriously.

It has taken a lot of work to get to this point, and we want to thank staff for remaining steadfast in their support of the union effort.  We also want to remind you that the issue is more important than ever.  Staff still wants to have a voice in discussions of wages, benefits, and working conditions, and a union will grant us that on a permanent basis.  As you know, there is no way to know who the next director will be or who will sit on the board next year.  Will they be supportive of staff?  Will they offer clear channels for input?  Will they give staff in a voice in discussions of wages and benefits—issues that should be of real importance to us all?  Currently, all decisions regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions are made by the director and the board.  Staff has no permanent place in these discussions and none will be guaranteed without union representation.  At this point, any opportunity for input is a privilege.

The board and library administration face many challenges—especially with regard to the budget.  If you want to insure that staff concerns are heard, that we’re afforded the opportunity to provide meaningful input into these discussions, then supporting the union effort at MCPL is of paramount importance.  Without a union, we put ourselves at the mercy of the board and the director, and, again, we must carefully consider whether we want to continue working in an environment where all decisions are made by the board and the director…with no guaranteed staff input.

Coming out of the board work session on the 12th, it was obvious that the board was leaning toward an election rather than a card count.  One board member went so far as to state that having an election was simply the “American way”.  We would add to that sentiment that representation is also the American way, as is a system of checks and balances.  Presently, the board and the director are represented, but staff has no check and, as such, the balance of power is significantly tilted away from staff.  By supporting the union and seeing this effort through, we can rectify that and help to make MCPL a truly democratic organization where we all have a voice.

If you have any questions about the union, please talk to a member of the organizing committee.  In addition, members of the organizing committee will be available to discuss the union effort in the 3rd floor staff lounge on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 2:00. Please stop by and share your suggestions and concerns. 

Respectfully,

The MCPL Organizing Committee

Mark Blackwell
Phil Eskew
Penny Gillie
Paula Gray-Overtoom
Stephanie Holman
Joe Langfitt
Dory Lynch
Bobby Overman
Wendy Rubin
Jane Ruddick
Laura Ruchti
Jean Schelm
Kathy Starks-Dyer