Library workers turning to union

Leslie Wilson, the library’s curator of special collections, said their goal is to improve working conditions for the 40 employees.

“We’re trying to achieve greater respect and dignity for the staff,’’ said Wilson, who has worked at the library for nearly 20 years. “There has been an atmosphere of fear and intimidation and we are fearful of losing our jobs through pressure or disciplinary action.’’

Wilson declined to discuss specific concerns, saying that employees are trying to take the “high road’’ and not engage in a public back and forth.

“You don’t want information getting out there that takes on a life of its own,’’ she said. “You want to give the process a chance to work.’’

Concord Town Manager Chris Whelan said the town places a high value on the library employees. He disputed comments that they are treated with too little respect.

“I don’t agree that the town manager or library director has shown any disrespect for staff,’’ Whelan said. “They are highly valued. They are helpful to patrons who consistently rank them among the highest of town services.’’

Library director Kerry Cronin, who joined the staff in 2009, said she values the employees at the library and looks forward to working with them on the many improvements they have planned, including the increased use of technology and expanded programmingfor all ages.

“I have the highest respect for the knowledge and skills of our staff,’’ she said.

Cronin said the library has introduced some procedural changes that are needed to ensure proper management. For example, she said,they are tightening financial management practices related to the collection of cash for fines.

“I understand change can be difficult for some but we are all working toward the same goal of providing the people of Concord with a first-class modern library that continues to satisfy the needs of our patrons,’’ Cronin said.

The employees approached Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees late last year about joining the union. The Concord library has two branches and strong support in town, with nearly 92 percent of residents holding library cards. The library recently completed a $3.5 million renovation of its Fowler branch in West Concord, with most of the money donated by residents. In Concord, the town pays for the staff, while the nonprofit Concord Free Public Library Corporation owns the buildings and grounds.

AFSCME Council 93 represents approximately 220 workers in the Boston public library system and about 400 library workers in four New England states. Communities with unionized library employees include Arlington, Brookline, Bellingham, Belmont, Maynard, Newton, and Watertown, said spokesman James Durkin.

The Service Employees International Union Local 888 also represents municipal employees in the region including 31 municipal libraries. Just recently, a majority of Town Hall, library, and other employees in Millis voted to join the SEIU local.

In Concord, a “strong majority’’ of the 40 library employees signed cards to join the union, Durkin said, though he declined to give an exact number.

But since those efforts in December, the town has filed a challenge with the state Department of Labor Relations questioning the inclusion of some employees, specifically pages who shelve books, part-time employees working less than 20 hours, and supervisors. And if those employees are not included, the town questions whether there is still a majority in support of unionizing, according to a letter sent from its Worcester-based law firm Mirick O’Connell on Jan. 23.

Durkin said the challenge will probably delay the union certification by several months but will have no effect on the final outcome.

“We view the town’s efforts to be standard management delay tactics that waste taxpayer’s money and force employees to wait for the union representation they deserve,’’ Durkin said. “Any issues could be resolved by sitting down and talking to us.’’

Durkin said the challenge is an indication that town leaders do not want the union.

“Most employers would not attempt to stonewall the creation of a union,’’ he said. “If a town wants to recognize a union, it’s fairly smooth. If they don’t, they can use delay tactics to lengthen the process. In this case, it seems pretty clear to me that the town does not want their workers in a union. Ultimately we will prevail and their workers will be represented by AFSCME.’’

In a recent letter to residents, Whelan said the town cannot discourage union activity while a petition for certification is pending.

“This means we cannot promise to resolve issues that have been raised, offer new benefits, or make changes in working conditions,’’ the letter stated.

The letter said the town’s overall position is that a library bargaining unit is “unnecessary and not in the best interest of the town, its citizens or its employees.’’ However, it stated that whatever the outcome of the organizing effort, the town remains “committed to maintaining the very high standards for helpful and friendly customer service the residents of Concord have come to expect.’’

In an interview, Whelan said he has been aware of tension with staff dating back about a year, around the time a staff member voluntarily left the department. He said he met with the employees and then decided to bring in a consultant.

“We hired a consultant to work on communication issues, style, and collaborative decision making,’’ he said. “The first five sessions were not successful so we tried a different consultant.’’

He said the next five sessions yielded better results but were still not successful.

The library workers, through AFSCME, took out an advertisement in a local newspaper in late December explaining their position to residents. The ad said that recent actions have “diminished the role of staff, creating a discouraging environment and prompting the departure of some of our valued colleagues.’’

The letter stated that their actions are more related to respect and dignity than wages and benefits.

“Loss of morale and of seasoned staff members will eventually affect the high level of service that town residents enjoy and expect from this local treasure of an institution,’’ it stated.

Wilson said the employees tried to resolve their concerns by going through the proper channels but got nowhere. That is when they decided to turn to the union for help.

“We’re hoping the union will give us the little leverage we need to restore respect,’’ she said.

Other Concord employees represented by a union are in the police, fire, public safety dispatchers, and school departments.

Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.