Often the catalyst for unionization is a crisis which usually occurs when Management underestimates the tolerance of its workers regarding inequitable treatment or policies.

The crisis for us at the Prince Georges’ County Memorial Library System occurred when a Classification Study resulted in maintenance staff taking a substantial pay cut.  Requests for information regarding the comparisons, criterion, and methodology underlying the Study were denied.  Formal appeals went unanswered as well.  The Administration stated that they didn’t have the time to address each appeal.  Clearly, the maintenance employees were accountable to the Administration but the Administration was not accountable to them, and never would be unless things changed.

A group of concerned staff members, serving on the Staff Association at the time, felt the only way things would change was if the staff unionized.  We realized that any rights we did have in the workplace were given to us by management and could just as easily be taken away.  Our rights could only be guaranteed by collective bargaining resulting in a binding contract. We approached the Municipal County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO) and the rest is history.  We became a unionized library system in 2000.

For us, the Union has leveled the playing field.  Accountability is now a two-way street.  We can negotiate our wages, benefits and working conditions.  We can grieve unfair treatment and policies without fear of retaliation.  Stewards represent us.  They address our questions, suggestions, issues and concerns.  They help us resolve problems at the local level, be it a department or a branch and essentially serve as mediators, making sure that everyone involved gets to weigh in.  The Stewards work with the members and Management to create a positive, productive work place and to insure that Management’s practices and policies are equitable and transparent.  We feel much more empowered and secure knowing that we have a contract and as one staff member stated “that the Union is there for us and has our back.”

Because of the Union, we were able to meet with our County Council members to discuss our issues and concerns. Because of our strong voice, we were able to secure additional $700,000.00 for PGCMLS that was used to hire over 30 additional staff over a three-year period and to place Sheriffs Deputies in branches needing additional security.

Never in 35 years had the staff ever had such a positive impact on the budget process.  And never before had we been asked to participate in the political process.  Because of the Union, when the County mandated 10 day furloughs for all county workers, our members received a three day furlough Because of the Union, on this last go around, when the county mandated 10 + furlough days for their county workers, the union was able to negotiate five furlough days for us. We also had a voice in when the furloughs occurred – we took them over the holidays rather than spread out over the year.

Many library workers in other systems feel that they have an enlightened administration or that because they are professionals, they don’t need a union.  The reality is that enlightened administrations come and go, and the rights and protections the staff currently enjoy, are tenuous at best and can be withdrawn at any moment--from professionals as well as non-professionals!  Nobody will better have the workers’ interests at heart better than the workers themselves!  And their union!

Susan L. Smithers/PGCMLS Vice President/Local UFCW 1994 Executive Board

Teen Age Level Specialist/Bowie Branch Library/Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS)

Susan has worked for PGCMLS for 35 years and Anne Arundel County Public Library System for 2 years.  In the course of 37 years, she has worked as a Circulation Assistant, Bookmobile Librarian/Driver, County Correctional Center Librarian to mention a few positions.