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Union Supporters Disrupt Indianapolis Library Budget HearingSome 50 employees of the Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library demonstrated inside and picketed outside a public meeting July 20 on the library’s proposed budget—one that calls for cutting a scheduled 2% salary increase in half and trimming spending on staff telephone calls, travel, and training. Board President Louis Mahern threatened to clear the meeting room at the Fountain Square branch, where workers loudly chanted “Recognition now” in support of forming a union.Trustees have not recognized employees’ unionizing efforts, which the Indianapolis Star reported July 21 claims the support of 65% of salaried staff. Mahern said a union would lead to rising personnel costs and fewer acquisitions. “I’ll take a vote when there are four [of the seven] board members asking” to recognize collective bargaining, he added. The proposed $36-million 2007 operating budget represents a spending cut of $537,000 that would also involve a 6% reduction in books and materials purchases and a 35% decrease in programming activities. Board member Gary Meyer said city officials, who rejected the library’s request for a tax increase in September 2005, expect continued services despite increased costs and rising circulation. Library CEO Linda Mielke, who declined a pay raise in March, told the Star, “We’re doing more with less, but this can’t go on forever.” At the hearing, the board approved the first $25 million of $45 million in bonds to cover cost overruns on its $103-million Central Library expansion project. The library is suing contractors and consultants to recover overcharges that can be used to pay off the bonds, the Star reported July 20. Officials are now saying that the library could reopen in December 2007—two years later than originally planned, but two months earlier than the last estimate. Posted July 21, 2006. |
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