Posted August 25, 2006.

Indianapolis Board Votes to Recognize Union

The Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library Board agreed unanimously August 17 to recognize an employee union if enough workers support it. Board President Louis Mahern, who has previously resisted demands for collective bargaining, said in the August 19 Indianapolis Star that he “worked with other board members” to ensure there were enough votes to pass the measure, which requires at least 75% of eligible employees to cast ballots in a union election.

Library employees, who demonstrated inside and picketed outside a public meeting July 20 on the library’s proposed budget, said they were surprised but relieved by the board’s vote. “It was a definite victory in the sense that this is the first step they’ve taken to recognize us,” library Reference Assistant Michael Torres told the newspaper. “We have not had any dialogue for months.”

Staff voted last year to join the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. Torres said some 300 employees were eligible to join the union, while Mahern set the number at about 270.

Posted August 25, 2006.