MU librarians vote to unionize
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Librarians at the University of Missouri in Columbia voted last week to unionize, according to a Friday press release from LiUNA 955, a union that represents several employee groups in Mid-Missouri.
“We are hopeful that the UM System voluntarily recognizes our union and bargains in good faith.” engineering librarian Noël Kopriva said in the release.
The release says the workers filed with the State Board of Mediation on Friday, Dec. 12. An MU spokesman told ABC 17 News that the university has received the petition.
"The University received the petition filed with the Missouri Board of Mediation by the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 955, on December 12, 2025, and is aware of today’s press release,” a statement from MU spokesman Travis Zimpfer says. “Local 955 seeks to be the exclusive bargaining representative of certain employees affiliated with the Mizzou libraries. The University is reviewing the petition and press release and will follow the law in these proceedings.”
Taira Meadowcroft, a health science librarian, was quoted in the release says workers voted to unionize to “improve MU Libraries.”
“Some of our staff barely make above minimum wage and that harms our ability to deliver effective service to our users – the researchers, students, staff and faculty that keep this University running,” Meadowcroft was quoted in the release.
