(BALTIMORE, MARYLAND) - Workers at Maryland’s Howard County Library System (HCLS) are forming a Union through American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Maryland Council 3 that would include 150 Staff Members across all seven branches.

The Workers want a voice in the decision-making process, more transparent communications, fair wages, additional job protections, reasonable schedules, adequate staffing, and solutions to health and safety concerns, Union Officials said.

Organizing efforts began after a group of employees met last year following sweeping job restructuring to discuss the challenges within the Library System.

After realizing that administration had done little to address their Staff’s long-standing concerns, the Workers decided it was time to take action and form HoCo Library Workers United. 

Their goals were outlined in their Organizing Committee letter, signed by nearly 80 Employees.

Caitlin Felder, a Teen Instructor and Research Specialist, cited short staffing as a big reason for wanting to Unionize: “Right now, I can’t be as effective as I would like to be in my job because I can’t go out as often in the community due to short staffing.  I really want to Unionize so I can go to more school visits and meet teens outside of the branch.  I look forward to the day where going out in the community doesn't put strain on staffing needs in the branch.”

To Read This Organizing Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Workers at Maryland’s Howard County Library System to form a union | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)