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New library pact includes wage freeze, cuts in vacation time
TweetStaff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The board of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has ratified an agreement with its librarians that includes a pay freeze and reductions in vacation and sick time.
The pact is with the Public Librarian Association of Youngstown, which is affiliated with Service Employees International Union District 1199.
The agreement will be retroactive to May 31, when the old contract expired. The duration of the contract is two years and four months. Union members unanimously ratified the agreement June 3.
Janet Loew, media relations specialist for the library, said the union employs 55 librarians.
In a press release, the board said the agreement contains cost-saving measures: capping the library’s portion of health insurance and a reduction in sick and vacation time.
Loew said library system will pay 6 percent of any health-insurance premium increase.
“We wanted to help maintain a reasonable cost-sharing plan,” she said.
The contract provides for improved efficiencies; greater ability to manage current and future costs; tools and flexibility to secure the work force needed to operate a technologically advanced library committed to outstanding customer service.
“Our employees continue to demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and an understanding of prudent use of public funds. As state funding dipped in 2009, they voluntarily agreed to roll back their wages to 2008,” said library director Carlton A. Sears.
“Additionally, as funds continued to decline the following year, the employees again agreed to freeze their wages and steps at that 2008 level for another year. This year, we were able to reinstate wages to the 2009 level.”
Loew said under the agreement, the average hourly wage is $21.89 for librarians.
Key items in the agreement are reinstating wages to a 2009 level the first year and freezing them for the following 16 months of the contract, with no step increases; reducing the number of sick days allotted to employees each year; reducing the vacation schedule; and capping the library’s portion of health-insurance premiums.
At the board’s meeting Thursday, Sears also reported that the Internal Revenue Service has reported that the free tax preparation program in Mahoning County, in which the library participates, brought into the Mahoning Valley $3.36 million in refunds and fee savings to participants.
This is a 4 percent increase over the previous year. The library is a partner in the Mahoning Valley Economic Opportunity Coalition in providing tax help for seniors and people with low to moderate income.
Sears added the library was one of the first in Ohio to offer a mobile app, PLYMC mobile, for Web-enabled smartphones. The app launched May 22. On the first day, the website for the app had about 1,900 visits. Information can be found at www.libraryvisit.org/PLYMCmobile
Comments
"this year we were able to reinstate wages to the 2009 levels.'
Over 45K for a librarian is way too much pay in my book. With the library internet site, who even needs them anymore? They remind me of the toll both operators replaced by machines. All we need are a couple (lower paid) librarians available by phone to help a library user. Vote "NO" on the next library levy.
What about all the taxpayer dollars spent on that sappy, "I love my Library" campaign? Have you ever in your life seen the library advertise like this? Watch your wallets... another levy is coming.
It is funny how deceiving headlines are when it comes to our public workers and the contracts that they agree to. The headline says Wage Freeze but the details say otherwise...Actually, they get an increase back to 2009 level, then a freeze for the next 16 months of a two year four month contract! What happens over the next 12 months of the deal? And capping the Library's portion of Healthcare cost's? To what extent? It says nothing of what they pay, just that the Library will only pay 6% of any premium increase.. That is not capping! For all I know the Library could be paying 100% right now.. And, not to mention $21.89 an hour for an obselete job in an obsolete system??? WOW!!!
We need the Vindy's "Government Watch" gang to expose the library secrets: i.e., the employee and employer contributions to health care & wage and bonus information for everyone employed by the library for the last several years (including the "big wigs.")
You can run but you can't hide, library people!
Hey Paul, while we are at it how about the WRTA wages benefits that it costs to haul around a few people per route? Here in Boardman, I still only see mostly empty buses, how about your side of town?
Talk about a total waste of a 1/4" percent sales tax if I ever saw one.
PP,
They are your employees, YOU do something , why wait for the vindy to do all the work for you.
Lets get all employees to minimum wage. That will solve all problems. Every employees make 8.50 an hour. Private and public. That way nobody can afford a house or new car. But the Business owner can laugh all the way to the bank.
Indeed, I do love my library.
I stated it before and I'll state it again.
SB5 is going after ALL BLUE COLLAR AND WHITE COLLAR JOBS.
They are simply using the unions as a punching bag... for now.
In time, those making $8.50 an hour will be the targets.
You do your best to keep your children healthy, but sickness and accidents are a part of life. Getting health insurance for your children gives you peace of mind knowing they have health coverage when they need it. Search one the web "Penny Health Insurance" for kids they are the best.