Detroit PL Staff Lacks Contract
after 17 Months
Frustrated by working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30, 1998, librarians and support staff made plans to gather outside a Friends of the Detroit Public Library fundraising dinner December 11 to pass out informational packets. Their intent was to explain the position of their separate unions on the stalemate in contract negotiations with the library administration.
In the spring of 1999, the administration’s initial offer of no salary increase for three years was unacceptable to the two units of the United Auto Workers who represent the DPL librarians. The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union that represents the support staff was similarly stymied during separate talks. Both groups have asked the state for public fact-finding hearings, which are expected to take place in January or February.
Deputy Director Sandra Clemons told American Libraries that the library “would like to resolve the conflict. We don’t feel that negotiations on the administration’s part have been mean-spirited.” However, one DPL staff member described the situation at work as a “toxic atmosphere of fear and loathing. The staff is demoralized beyond description.”
Posted December 13, 1999.
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