When five suburban Columbus public libraries decided to form unions in recent years — following concerns about COVID-19 work conditions — there was uncertainty about the process.
Would management accept and recognize their efforts? Would there be retaliation? Would pay, benefits and work conditions improve?
In at least two of the five central Ohio libraries where staff since 2021 have voted to unionize through the Ohio Federation of Teachers, there are lingering questions.
The Delaware County District Library, the most recent to form a union in 2024, is working with management on a contract. But in August, the State Employment Relations Board found evidence to charge library management with holding a “captive audience” meeting with staff to discuss an upcoming vote and not allowing the union equal time to speak with library staff. In addition, the state board charged management with breaking a promised employee leave policy.
“It’s called an unfair labor charge or practice,” said Nicole Fowles, a library spokesperson. “As far as I know, that is still an active case with SERB.”
Fowles, who is a manager and not part of the Delaware County United Library Staff union, declined to discuss the details, saying only: “I know that it’s fairly common, typically early in the process. I think a lot of times it’s a learning process of what we’re allowed to do.”
According to the State Employment Relations Board’s 2025 Annual Report, there have been 203 unfair labor practice charges filed statewide. “Out of those 203 charges, the board found probable cause in eight matters,” said Mona Reed, the board’s executive director.
Fowles said staff morale has been good: “With the passage of a May levy, we’re able to fulfill our first promise of expanding our hours (beginning Sept. 15). And we had hiring fairs and hired 26 new staff members and promoted 20 staff members.”
In Upper Arlington, library staff voted to unionize in May 2024. Still without a contract, the new union comprises about 90 librarians and library workers.
At the time, Library Director Beth Hatch emailed her employees: “We respect that decision and will bargain in good faith to achieve an acceptable contract.”
But videos from Hatch to staff were questioned.
“Despite heavy-handed, anti-union videos from management, UAPL workers voted to form their union, so they can advocate for the pay and benefits they deserve and for the world-class library resources and services their patrons deserve,” said Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers.
Negotiating contracts can be a difficult balance, with workers seeking better pay, benefits, and work conditions while management is seeking to control costs borne by taxpayers and increasingly squeezed budgets.
The union at Pickerington Public Library ratified its first contract in March, with 10.5% pay raises over three years plus longevity pay bonuses, additional paid leave, protection against unfair discipline and formation of a collaborative labor-management committee.
Grandview Heights Public Library workers organized a union through the Ohio Federation of Teachers in 2022. The contract, which began Jan. 1, 2024, covers a portion of a library staff of fewer than 20. It includes up to 12% increases and runs through December 2026, union officials and library spokesperson Canaan Faulkner said in an email. “Contract administration is going smoothly.”
R.C. Worrell, a Grandview library associate and president of the library’s union, said creating a union has empowered staff.
“The folks in the union are so happy that we are here. … We’re happy that we’re empowered to have our voices heard and to shape our own work lives.”
The contract, however, now requires time card logins, including in and out for lunch and each of two 15-minute breaks. That’s eight logins a day that weren’t previously required.
In addition, absences must be documented with doctor excuses, or employees risk receiving a tracking point for each offense. Up to seven points is followed with discipline. The process has lowered morale, with some workers coming to work sick, Worrell said.
“The whole timekeeping system has brought on tangible stress,” Worrell said. “We need to take care of ourselves in order to take care of the public we serve, similar to putting your mask on first during COVID. If the staff feels not as respected as they should, that will be reflected in their work.”
Even with some issues, Worrell said, “A library union is good for all, across the community.”
Worthington Libraries’ union contract was ratified in March 2023
“Working together and having the common cause of serving the community is something we’ve always had,” said Lauren Robinson, library director of about 100 union employees. “Labor management has been very good at getting issues to me.”
Pay range adjustments rose 5%, 3% and 3% in each of the contract’s first three years, she said. That’s 11% to the base pay range. Overall, to compensate for wage disparities, the average is 15% over the contract, according to union officials.
Employees also saw upgrades to paid parental and bereavement leave, the ability to use vacation days on weekends and an end to disciplinary action for unscheduled absences (which include unscheduled sick days). These new policies were added into the union contract without any corresponding concessions from employees.
Growth and development reporter Dean Narciso can be reached at dnarciso@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Several suburban libraries began unionizing after COVID. Are they better off 4 years later?
Reporting by Dean Narciso, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
