Today, an overwhelming majority (72%) of librarians and library workers at Athens County Public Libraries (ACPL) called on their Director and Board of Trustees to recognize their union. Copies of signed union cards from an overwhelming majority of library employees were delivered to management, while the originals were filed with the State Employee Relations Board (SERB) to request voluntary recognition of the union.
“An Athens County Public Libraries staff union is something our patrons deserve just as much as we do,” said Carter Beeson, a Children Services Librarian at Nelsonville Public Library. “As front-line librarians and library workers, we hear daily from patrons both what they love about their libraries, and what could be better. I believe this gives us unique knowledge of and responsibility for the services we provide to the public. But the power necessary to honor that responsibility requires respect, fair wages, and a voice in the decisions that affect our work.”
said Andrea Anderson, a Library Associate at Athens Public Library., added, “After our union is recognized, I look forward to negotiating a contract that provides a living wage for all staff. Currently, some full-time staff qualify for food assistance. That is unacceptable and we can change it with the power of collective bargaining.”
The employees are organizing to join the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), who represent nearly 20,000 active and retired public school teachers, charter school teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty and staff, library workers, and social work professionals in Ohio. They will be the fifth Ohio library system to join OFT since 2021 (following workers at the public libraries in Worthington, Grandview Heights, Pickerington, and Upper Arlington).
Athens County Public Libraries’ Board of Trustees will have 21 days to decide whether to recognize the union voluntarily or force an election through SERB. Library workers in Grandview Heights had their union voluntarily recognized by their Board of Trustees, while library workers in Worthington, Pickerington, and Upper Arlington had landslide wins in union elections after their Boards declined to recognize their unions voluntarily.
“We’re seeing a union movement of library workers in Ohio who understand that they need a strong, organized voice that allows them to advocate for themselves, their patrons, and their profession,” said Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. “Our members across Ohio — in public libraries, K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, and social service agencies — are thrilled to support ACPL workers, and we urge the library to respect the majority decision and recognize the union.”
Bryce Hoehn, a Teen Librarian at Athens Public Library, added, “My coworkers and I love our libraries, and we’re forming our union to protect everything that makes them special. Our library has been recognized with multiple awards for the excellent services we provide to the community, yet many of the workers who make this possible are unable to keep up with the rising cost of living. We are an open, inclusive space committed to intellectual freedom, yet we’re facing increasing opposition from lawmakers who seek to censor LGBTQ+ content. Forming a union gives us a voice to negotiate fairer wages and to speak up against library censorship.”
The Ohio Federation of Teachers is opposed to efforts to censor public libraries, including two bills that were recently introduced in the Ohio House, HB 556 and HB 662.
In addition to the public libraries in Worthington, Grandview Heights, Pickerington and Upper Arlington, staff at six more organizations also formed unions in affiliation with OFT since 2021 (Columbus College of Art & Design, Equitas Health, the School of Bright Promise, Summit Academy in Lorain, Menlo Park Academy in Cleveland, and KIPP Columbus charter schools).
Supporters can take action by contacting the leadership of Athens County Public Libraries here or going to https://actionnetwork.org/
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