ABC: Cleveland Public Library workers left without contract after Jan 1 deadline passes

January 1st marked the deadline for a new contract between the Cleveland Public Library and its nearly 400 workers, but the date came and went and a January 8th vote has been set to determine if the workers will go on strike or not.

Cleveland's local ABC Affilate, News 5 Cleveland, reports that a main sticking point between the union and library is the issue of library security following the shooting death of 19-year-old Brandon Cutnoe last July. Library workers point to security features that don't work and the termination of a contract with a security firm that, workers say, will reduce response times to violence in libraries.

Library workers also point to the three marketing consultants hired after the shooting to the tune of $150,000 and double digit pay increases for library administrators while workers were offered only 1.5% after a 10-year wage freeze.

Negotiations are set to restart at the end of January, but many workers view that as too long to wait for needed security improvements.