By Jacky Gerzema
For 10 months, the CSEA, which represents many of the library's full-time employees, and the library board of trustees have tried to reach a compromise concerning the union contract. With no agreement in sight, both sides turned to a mediator July 26.
Three-year contracts for full-time library employees expired June 30 and have not been renewed, said one library worker. She said CSEA library employees have been negotiating with the board to keep their salary the same.
Both workers and board members agreed not to talk about the terms of the negotiations. But one employee agreed to speak to the Herald as long as her identity was protected. She said the board is trying to lower the annual salary
for some positions and wants to change policy so that employees will have to pay for some of their health insurance. The insurance has been fully paid for in the past.
The cost of insurance was a big factor in many school and library budget increases in May. "We are trying to get as good of a contract as we can get and hold on to what we have," the worker said.
"For the first time in fifteen years, the CSEA and the board are unable to reach an agreement," said Barbara Hopkins, director of the library. "Both sides are doing their level best to bring this all to a fast conclusion."
If a compromise still cannot be reached after three meetings with the mediator, the parties will proceed to the next negotiation stage, arbitration.
Hopkins said the first meeting of the mediation stage on July 26 was quite lengthy-around four hours. She thinks the mediation process will be successful, "or at least I think we all hope so."
"Both sides have agreed not to discuss this and if someone on staff wants to discuss this, it's very irresponsible of them," said Kevin Kamen, president of the board of trustees. He said he hopes there is a quick and sensible resolution that fairly takes care of the staff and fairly takes care of the taxpayers as well.
