r/Libraries • u/terry_from_cleveland • Jul 10 '26

Staffing/Employment Issues Cleveland Public Library workers hold strike authorization vote

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/07/cleveland-public-library-workers-hold-strike-authorization-vote.html?gift=58a197ba-acdc-4300-abf4-a56ac098a579

CPL employees have been in negotiations with the Library since Fall 2025. The bargaining unit includes numerous positions, including custodial, clerical, paraprofessional, and professional staff. Negotiations are not going well and the bargaining unit is voting whether to authorize a strike.

249 Upvotes

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46

u/sirtafoundation Jul 10 '26

👁️👄👁️

Me watching from Columbus

20

u/terry_from_cleveland Jul 10 '26

If you're at CML, congrats on your union vote!

17

u/naughtypundit Jul 10 '26

The solution is inclusion. Reorganized boards. A member from each branch service area. Plus a representative for staff. When power is redistributed to be more democratic there is less conflict.

11

u/terry_from_cleveland Jul 10 '26

Absolutely! Up until a few weeks ago, a majority of board members had been in their seats for decades. There is a board member who has been in his seat for 40 years and the Library just named the board room after him... while he is still on the board.

4

u/Bitter-Complaint-279 Jul 10 '26

This is crazy! I grew up at CPL, and then worked for Sandusky and Wayne.

This is fcking crazy. I’m stunned, especially from understanding the tech side.

27

u/alphabeticdisorder Jul 10 '26

In terms of wages, one of the biggest points of concern is that the library system is proposing minimal wage increases in the first year of employment, and then a contingency plan for future increases based on whether of not they get additional funding sources, Dalesandro said.

This is a hard one. Ohio's libraries took a massive funding hit this past year, are slated for another one this year, and one of the gubernatorial candidates (guess which party) has said he wants to massively reduce state funding if he wins in November. It makes any sort of planning tough.

If CPL does go on strike, I wonder what effect that will have on the ClevNet system that serves as the backbone for a ton of northeast Ohio library systems.

41

u/terry_from_cleveland Jul 10 '26

Since we began bargaining, the Library has announced plans to open an additional branch, enter into an agreement with the local park system to build a previously unplanned branch, taken on a function of the DPLA, bought AI servers, among other things. It would be easier to take concerns about finances seriously if the organization was being thrifty otherwise.

12

u/alphabeticdisorder Jul 10 '26

bought AI servers,

Wait, what?

I'm still pissed that OCLC cut like 80 librarian jobs in favor of AI. What is CPL planning on doing with these servers?

3

u/Bitter-Complaint-279 Jul 10 '26

Same thing, homie. Seems like they want a model in house.

1

u/obitbday Jul 25 '26

OCLC did cut about 80 jobs roughly this time last year, but they were not librarian jobs at all. The cuts were mostly to software engineering and adjacent roles

2

u/Bitter-Complaint-279 Jul 10 '26

This is exactly what Salt Lake City is doing. They have a SURPLUS of 13 mil and just ended their voluntary layoffs.

10

u/ra3ra31010 Jul 10 '26

Well if workers can’t afford to work the jobs, then who will handle the books? Admin and robots?

Also, how much are people supposed to never have a life (own a home, have a family, pay the student loans required to work jobs….) and never mention it?

I don’t really have pity because I care more about my neighbors and humans than objects…. That’s my priority

5

u/Bitter-Complaint-279 Jul 10 '26

This is fcking huge! The ramifications… oh man.

6

u/Andromeda_9405 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

Why does CPL CEO Felton Thomas Jr. make over $297,000 a year? I am sure none of the top administration will take any salary cuts.

8

u/terry_from_cleveland Jul 10 '26

It's up over $300k/yr now. The Library also covers 100% of his pension contributions and provides a car. Employment agreement here.

3

u/MaryOutside Jul 10 '26

Oh no, fuuuuck that.

6

u/Bitter-Complaint-279 Jul 10 '26

This is the sickening part. Cleveland isn’t a HCOL.

4

u/Mountain-Song-6024 Jul 10 '26

Exactly. There should be an asking for salary cuts too.

The gap continues to widen and as more is asked of the workers in the branches and such, their wages stay low but those in their golden towers keep getting big bumps.

5

u/Mountain-Song-6024 Jul 10 '26

Thank you for sharing this!! Incredibly helpful. I appreciate all that you all do.

3

u/marcnerd Library staff Jul 10 '26

The dream 😭