Historic contract for Peoria Public Library workers (IL)

 

AFSCME Local 3464

PEORIA, Ill. – A new labor deal is now official between the Peoria Public Library and its workers’ union.

The union, represented by AFSCME Local 3463, ratified the deal last week, while the library’s Board of Trustees approved the deal at their meeting Tuesday evening.

Historic contract for Peoria library workers – People's World (peoplesworld.org)

As the bargaining team dealt with a reluctant administration, the union began organizing its members for the long struggle ahead. More than any other previous contract negotiation, they kept their fellow workers informed on what was happening at the negotiation table with consistent bulletins and one-on-one conversations. “By the second month of bargaining, the workers realized this wasn’t going to be like previous contracts and the union was fighting for more than just the standard.”

A few of the big wins for library workers included in this contract:

• Raises: 5% the first year and 4% each year after
• $500 Christmas bonus
• Added holiday: Juneteenth
• Sick leave now includes mental health days
• Gender-neutral language was added throughout the contract
• Parental leave now includes foster care and adoption