Mid-Continent Public Library Workers to Form Union with CWA

A supermajority of workers declare support to join Communications Workers of America Local 6360 in Kansas City

 
MCPL Workers United-CWA members outside the MCPL North Independence Branch held a press conference to announce their plans to form a union with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6360.

Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, March 27, workers across the Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) system gathered at the North Independence Branch to hold a press conference to announce that they are forming a union with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6360 in Kansas City. Over 60% of the nearly 700 union-eligible workers at MCPL also signed a public declaration of support of their union, MCPL Workers United-CWA.

“Library workers are the heart of our libraries. We connect people to knowledge, opportunity, and community every day. We do this job because we love our communities and we love being able to serve our communities,” said MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and MCPL Youth Services Associate Laura Detrick. “Supporting the movement to unionize with CWA means standing up for a voice in our workplace. It means demanding the respect and dignity that we deserve. It means supporting the libraries our communities deserve.”

 
MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and MCPL Youth Services Associate Laura Detrick.

MCPL is one of the largest library systems in the United States, serving more than 840,000 residents across the Kansas City Metropolitan Area by providing programs, public spaces, and access to information, technology, and resources. The union includes part-time and full-time librarians, early literacy associates, information technology workers, and other staff who support the daily operations of the library system. MCPL Workers United-CWA emphasizes that their efforts are focused on strengthening the library system for both workers and the public.

“Mid-Continent Public Library buildings are understaffed, and the employees are underpaid and undersupported. Too often, decisions are being made that prioritize private influence over public need. And that pulls us further away from the mission that brought us here in the first place: providing access to resources and connection to community,” said MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and Outreach Librarian Lisa Campbell. “We are forming a union because we care deeply about this work and because our community deserves a library system where the people with the day-to-day knowledge and expertise have a real voice in how that work is done.”

 
MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and MCPL Youth Services Associate Lisa Campbell.

Following the press conference, workers attempted to deliver their public declaration of support for the union to MCPL Executive Director and CEO Aaron Mason, but management immediately refused to accept the petitions or the letter of intent upon arrival. Organizers plan to submit their petition to the Missouri State Board of Mediation to begin a formal election process.

“It isn’t neutral to turn your back on our workers and the public. It isn’t neutral to compromise our safety. And it isn’t neutral to exclude certain voices as political in a space where everyone is meant to be welcome.” said MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and Youth and Early Literacy Associate Sascha Merryfield. “Our library is for everyone. We will fight to keep it safe, equitable, and strong together.”

 
MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 organizing committee member and MCPL Youth Services Associate Sascha Merryfield.

The announcement comes at a time of growing national momentum among library workers. Earlier this year, Monroe Public Library workers represented by CWA Local 1085 in Gloucester County, N.J., voted unanimously to ratify their first contract, securing significant salary increases and affordable quality health benefits.

For more union updates, follow MCPL Workers United-CWA Local 6360 on Instagram and Facebook.

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About CWA

The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion