Worthington Libraries (OHIO) board won't recognize union efforts

 The Worthington Libraries board of trustees voted June 28, 2021 to not recognize a demand by library staff to unionize, forcing employees to move toward its own vote.

Here is the response of Worthington Public Libraries United.

Our statement on Worthington Libraries Board of Trustees decision to reject voluntarily recognition and proceed to a union election with a pledge of employer neutrality:

Earlier this week, the Worthington Library Board of Trustees voted to reject voluntary recognition of our union and proceed to a union election. They also pledged to remain neutral during this process.

We are disappointed that our Board chose not to recognize our union based on the overwhelming majority support that we have already delivered to them and to the State Employment Relations Board. However, we are encouraged by the time and attention they took to listen to our concerns during the meeting and we are optimistic about their pledge to remain completely neutral.

We’ll be following up with the Board to discuss details about that pledge.

#WPLUnited #ItsLongOverdue

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The 6-1 vote by the seven-member board means that some 180 employees will decide for themselves at a future date whether they'll have union protection. And if a majority of those who eventually vote agree, a first-ever union will be formed at a Franklin County library.

The trustees, in their resolution, also agreed "to support a position of neutrality on the part of Worthington Libraries with respect to the matters considered in the representative election."

"We want this to be completely their decision in a private ballot," board president Lauren Fromme said following the vote. Library officials are permitted to lobby against union formation, and even hire "union avoidance consultants," also known as union busters.