Cuyahoga County Public Library staff has voted to strike next month if the union and library can’t reach a new contract agreement.
At issue are wage and salary increases, according to the Service Employees International Union 1199, which represents about 475 library employees.
“We don’t want to strike, but the library is leaving us with no choice. What we’ve proposed won’t come close to making up for what many of us have given up over the years. We want to serve members of our communities," said Heather Timko, a union member and supervisor at the library.
The union wants pay increases in line with inflation and the system's revenue growth, said SEIU representative Michael Wood.
State audits show CCPL revenue increased from about $66 million to about $94 million from 2007 to 2022 — a 45% increase. Staff wages haven’t increased at the same rate, according to Wood.
"The Library’s current wage proposal guarantees raises of 4% in 2024, 3% in 2025, and 3% in 2026, which will cost the Library a total of approximately $2.4 million over three years," the system said in a statement Monday. "CCPL initiated a wage study that indicated our wages and benefits are consistent with similar jobs in our local market."
The union also said it wants a system where staff can more easily receive raises beyond annual cost of living increases, including those based on tenure and experience.
“The library’s never actually said ‘We can’t afford’ what the union is asking us to do.’ They clearly can afford what we’re asking to do," Wood said. “We’re absolutely willing to work this out. We do not want to strike. We want to let our members continue to do the jobs that they all love doing and continue to serve their customers, but at some point we have to make sure that our members are getting what they deserve."
Wood said both sides have agreed on most terms of a new contract, but the issue of staff wages and raises lingers. The only other unresolved issue is a term in the contract that determines how the library system staffs Sundays.
According to Wood, the library currently staffs Sundays through a system of staff members offering or requesting to work. For many staff members, wages are increased on Sundays. Wood said CCPL wants to change the terms to be able to require or enforce Sunday staffing.
The library system's statement said services could be limited if a strike takes place.
"The Union’s demands will cost the Library approximately $5.1 million over three years. The cumulative impact on the Library’s budget would likely accelerate the need for additional local funding or layoffs," the statement said.
Staff have been working under the terms of the previous contract, which expired March 31. Since then, both sides have been negotiating a new three-year contract.
