Waukegan Public Library workers win stronger rights in first contract

 For the new AFSCME members at the Waukegan Public Library (WPL) in Chicago’s northern suburbs, the first chapter in the story of their union ends on a high note: They’ve won a first contract guaranteeing them a strong voice on the job and fair wages that reflect how valued they are in their community.

Working under a new library administration in early 2020, arbitrary new rules hampered their ability to do their jobs. Job duties were frustratingly inconsistent and could change at the drop of a hat. Under the new library administration, the number of staff shrank from 70 to just 35 in the span of a year.

The mass exodus of respected, experienced staff sounded the alarm for WPL workers. They knew that if they wanted to keep serving the community they know and love, they needed a stronger voice. They knew they needed a union.

Rosario Colin, a children’s reference assistant and a member of the AFSCME bargaining committee, said WPL workers began organizing to reclaim the voice they had lost under the new administration.