Boone County library workers one step closer to unionizing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Public library employees in Mid-Missouri are one step closer to forming the state's first union for workers of their kind.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library Board of Trustees met Thursday evening at the Columbia Public Library. Executive Director Margaret Conroy announced there has been enough support to call for an election on whether to unionize. The confidential vote between library workers could take place as soon as next month.
"The board decided, based on the knowledge that there are some number of staff that are not interested in the union, that it would be more fair to put it to a vote," Conroy said.
A group of DBRL workers announced in February their efforts to form a union for better compensation, work benefits and coronavirus concerns. Over 80 workers have joined the efforts.
"My situation here is not unique. There are many things I love about my job... So much so that I've taken a second job so I can afford to continue working here... I did everything I could to thrive in my position but it wouldn't be rewarded by DBRL," said library worker Ida Fogle during public comment.
Library workers in support of unionizing, like Dakota Hommes, wore red to Thursday's meeting.
"One downside if that we just don't know if we are going to get everything that we are asking for," Hommes said. "We're not going to sign a contract that doesn't benefit us."
However, the library system released a counter-statement saying it has supported employees and made their health and safety a priority.
"We support them in a number of ways," said Margaret Conroy executive director of Danial Boone Library. "The staff, like the general public, have differing opinions on a number of topics like how to handle COVID. We know that not all of our management decisions will please everyone, but we strive to work as a team."
If the vote passes, the next step will be for library workers, union representatives, library management and some lawyers to negotiate union contracts.
