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Support the IMCPL Employees
The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) workers are organizing to win union representation. In the past few years, while construction costs of the new library have run out of control, the workers have lost pay, benefits and cost of living raises. Concern about the quality of library services, however, is driving the organizing campaign as much as any concern about their own pay and benefits – they have been frustrated to see community services like the bookmobile discontinued for financial reasons.
A solid majority of library workers have signed authorization cards to become a part of AFSCME, but the Library Board has failed to recognize the union. Although other City of Indianapolis employees have collective bargaining rights under an ordinance passed by the City-County Council, the ordinance does not cover the Library workers. Thus, it is necessary for the Library Board to adopt a collective bargaining policy like the City-County ordinance in order for the Library workers to freely choose a union and have a real voice on the job.
You can help. Please send a letter to the Library Board members. Tell them that you support the workers and believe they should have a real voice at work. Ask the Library Board to recognize the workers’ union and begin bargaining in good faith.
What else you can do to help:
1) Write a letter to the editor. Individual letters to the editor of the Indianapolis Star, the Indianapolis Recorder, and NUVO will help keep reminding people about this issue.
2) Plan on attending the next meeting of the Library Board at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2006, at the Fountain Square Branch, 1066 Virginia Ave.
Please send a letter to the Library Board members now!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support the IMCPL employees
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I urge the Indianapolis-Marion County Library Board to recognize the union that has been formed by the Library workers. It is my understanding that a majority of Library workers have expressed support for AFSCME by signing authorization cards. The Library Board should adopt the same type of collective bargaining policy that has been adopted by the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, and use that policy to verify the majority support and begin negotiations with the workers? union.
It is my belief that union representation will contribute to an atmosphere of cooperation between the management and employees and help alleviate the frustration and dissatisfaction IMCPL employees are currently experiencing with the focus and direction of the IMCPL system.
Our library system provides a great service to the community that begins with these workers. They should be included in discussions about the direction and focus of our library system, and have a voice in library policies that directly affect them as employees.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
May 25, 2006
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