Salt Lake City library workers officially unionize, move to bargain ahead of ban
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Employees at the Salt Lake City Public Library have become the first library workers in Utah to gain formal union recognition.
According to a press release from the Local 1004 American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), 92% of the employees at the SLC library voted to unionize. The election was held on April 30 and May 1. This comes after employees began the campaign in April 2023.
'We as workers are looking forward to negotiating our first contract,' Christina Ordonez, associate librarian, is quoted in the release. 'We've always been here for our community, and we finally have the tools to advocate for ourselves and for each other.'
In January, the Salt Lake City Public Library Board approved a resolution to recognize the union. On Feb. 5, 2024, the Salt Lake City Council met to approve the employees' right to unionize, the vote passed unanimously.
PREVIOUSLY: Salt Lake City approves Utah's first library union amidst controversy on Capitol Hill
'To our Salt Lake City librarians and staff, we are so excited for this opportunity for each and every one of you. You deserve this, so thank you for fighting and bringing this forward,' Council Member Sarah Young said at the time of the resolution being approved.
Brad Asay, executive director for AFSCME Local 1004, spoke to ABC4 about what went into forming this union.
'A lot of work with attorneys, a lot of work with different entities to make sure everyone is on the same page,' Asay said. 'It was a two-year process, so it took quite a bit of work to get here.'
H.B. 267 concerns
H.B. 267, Public Sector Labor Union Amendments, 'prohibits a public employer from recognizing a labor organization as a bargaining agent for public employees,' according to the bill's text. This would prevent public sector unions — like the new Salt Lake City Public Library Workers Union — from organizing for collective bargaining.
More than 320k Utahns sign referendum to appeal labor union bill, double the required amount
While Asay says there is concern regarding H.B. 267, the referendum signatures will likely put a block on the bill going into effect. Those signatures are currently being verified.
'There are so many public workers affected by this bill — our amazing library workers of course, teachers, firefighters, police, and the thousands of city employees across the state, the people who keep your water and sewer systems running, who clear your streets of snow, who keep your neighborhoods safe, and ensure your city functions smoothly. All these workers are who lawmakers are trying to silence — workers who deserve a say in their training, safety, and working conditions,' AFSCME 1004 President Jerry Philpot said about H.B. 267 in the release.
Despite concerns regarding H.B. 267, the union employees are looking forward to exercising their new abilities as a recognized union. Asay says that a lot of the support that got them to where they are today is thanks to the SLC community.
'We just really appreciate all of the support that the public workers have had,' Asay shared. 'It was a huge amount of support from the Salt Lake community… all of us in the union and all the library workers really appreciate that support.'
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