The Akron Beacon Journal reported last month that negotiations between the Cuyahoga Falls Library and 27 employees represented by Professionals Guild of Ohio Local 3 ended without an agreement reached in mid July with no set date for when each side would return to the table.
The 17 part time and 10 full time employees have been without a contract since the last one expired at the end of 2018. Current negotiations have spread across 10 bargaining sessions, 5 of which have been mediated.
The sticking point seems to be the issue of wages and the protection of full-time positions.
Professionals Guild of Ohio Local 3 is asking for 3%/year for the life of the contract, which will be three years, or $0.50 which ever is greater while the library is showing no signs of being willing to go above 2.5% or $0.40.
Further, the union says that two full time positions have already been converted to part time and they want to ensure against future cuts in the future.
While the library claims the pay scale is already higher than comparable libraries in the area, union representatives point out that this is a poor comparison as high turnover since a new directors was brought on in 2016 means that most employees less than $14/hr and many would only be earning $11.50 though 2020 with the library's offer.
The union further points out that the library's offer is insultingly low when $15/hr is finally being discussed as a future established minimum wage at the federal level.
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