Howard County Library Workers Union Rallies for Fair Wages and Union Contract
Over 75 union and community members rallied outside annual fundraiser event for library system
Columbia, MD – On Saturday, February 22, over 75 Howard County Library System (HCLS) workers and members of the community rallied outside the system’s annual fundraiser event Evening in the Stacks at the East Columbia Branch. Workers called for a fair wage proposal and fair contract negotiations after 9 months of stalled negotiations for a first contract since negotiations began last May. A full livestream can be found here.
“We are here today to show we know our worth — because we know that the strengths of HCLS come from us! We’re the people who show up, who put in the work, who go above and beyond to keep things running. And yet HCLS does not pay us a living wage in the very community that we serve,” said Jess Lee, a Business Integration and Support Specialist for the library system.
“Time and again, I have seen decisions announced by management, and when branch staff point out logistical challenges or obstacles – accompanied by solutions for a way that would work better for everyone – we are ignored and silenced,” said Eliana Holgate, a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch of the system.
Despite Howard County being one of the wealthiest counties in Maryland, the library system’s staff have starting salaries below those in other populous counties, including Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Anne Arundel. Nearly 3 out of 4 HCLS workers do not earn a living wage for a family of four in Howard County on the current pay scale.
“The work I do is incredibly specialized. It requires a calm head to drive a 33-foot-long vehicle and to troubleshoot when technology aboard the bus malfunctions. I cannot perform my job at my best when I am also problem solving how I am going to feed, clothe, and care for my two children,” said Chris Heady, the STEAM Mobile Unit Driver and Instruction Assistant for the system.
Howard County Library Workers United (HCLWU) became the officially recognized union for HCLS workers after a union election in February of last year. The union is affiliated with AFSCME Maryland Council 3 and consists of over 200 full-time and part-time staff from all seven branches of the county’s library system.
We did not take these jobs expecting luxury, but we did expect fairness. We expected respect... This is not just about us – it is about the future of our libraries. If we allow poverty wages to drive out skilled, dedicated workers, who will be left to keep our libraries running? Who will fight for the right of every person to walk through those doors and find a safe space?” said Gabriela Perez, a Customer Service Specialist for the system.
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About AFSCME Maryland Council 3
AFSCME Maryland Council 3 represents nearly 45,000 public service workers at the local, city, county, state, and higher education levels who provide the valuable public services that our communities rely on. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore, we make Maryland happen.