AVON — The Lorain Public Library union staff soundly rejected a memorandum of understanding Friday night offered to them by the library system.

Union members shot down the proposal 58-16, but the union and library still have plenty of time to negotiate before February, when the memorandum would have gone into effect.

The proposal, which was offered as a way to secure some library jobs, was rejected because union members couldn’t figure out how it was different than not having a proposal at all, said Linda Meredith, Service Employees International Union Local 1199 president.

“They were still going to lay off people,” she said.

The library is trying to make up for a $1.1 million shortfall from the state’s Public Library Fund.

“While the library has now found the means to preserve 12 of the 32 positions originally slated for elimination, the Union Leadership Board believes there is still the means to reduce that number even further,” Meredith said in a letter she gave to the library’s board Thursday night.

Library Executive Director Joanne Eldridge said she could not publicly discuss what the memorandum of understanding would do because contract negotiations are private. She confirmed it would save some jobs, but would not say which ones. What the union was voting on Friday was actually a counterproposal offered by the library system after the union countered the library’s original offer.

Eldridge has previously said the board of trustees is asking the union to make changes to hours, staffing, bonuses and benefits. The union includes librarians, maintenance workers and clerical staff.

The memorandum would not go into effect until February, which gives both sides time to ask more questions and deliberate.

“We’re not in any big hurry,” Eldridge said. “We’re still trying to talk to the union. It’s in both of our best interest to sit down and discuss.”

Officials have said they intend to reduce the number of hours branches stay open and will close a few branches at least one day a week.

The union’s current contract doesn’t expire until March 31, 2011.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.
Contact Adam Wright at 329-7155 or awright@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---