Now Rahm is going after libraries and unilaterally changing work hours and laying off union workers in violation or the bargaining agreement with AFSCME Council 31. Back in November the Union was working out a deal with rahm. Instead of being a man and working out a deal, he unilaterally cut hours and positions. He then went in on a media blitz and cried like a baby that the Unions were not fair to the citizens of Chicago.
Budget cuts hit the Chicago Public Library: 363 public library workers, including librarians, library clerks, and pages.
According to the budget overview, the number of library employees would be reduced 32 percent from 1,128 to 765 full-time employees.
Lindall (Local 31 also represents library workers) points out that the cuts come two years after Daley made his own round of cuts to library personnel. Daley’s cutting of more than 100 library pages resulted in librarians saying they were overworked.
“Emanuel would be repeating and compounding the mistakes of Daley,” Lindall said.
The cuts will immediately result in library branches eliminating eight hours from their business week.
http://progressillinois.com/...
City Plans to Close Public Libraries on Mondays
Emanuel's half-hearted, half measures on libraries don't measure up
Feeling the pressure created by AFSCME and thousands of Chicago residents who don't want cuts to their libraries, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is trying to foist a "compromise" plan onto City Council while pretending he has the union's agreeement.
Emanuel has proposed restoring $3.3 million of the $8 million he tried to cut from the library budget. The proposed budget amendment would keep the libraries open on Monday and Friday mornings, but only when school is on summer or holiday breaks. When school is in session, the two mornings would still be cut. That would still mean 184 layoffs and another 268 vacant positions eliminated.
Contrary to the impression Emanuel is trying to create, the union has not agreed to nor been requested to discuss any part of the mayor's plan.
Call your alderman right away. You can click here to look them up using your home address. Tell them it's not OK to reduce any library programs, lock any library doors, or eliminate any library staff.
Once you've called your alderman, call Mayor Emanuel's office at 312-744-3300. Tell him no cuts to libraries means no cuts!
11/04/2011
http://www.afscme31.org/...
Anders Lindall, a spokesman for AFSCME Council 31, said the union sent a “cease-and-desist” letter to the city last week when it learned of Emanuel’s plan to implement the all-day Monday closing.
But, the mayor forged ahead anyway, in violation of the union contract, he said.
“They have no right under the contract or under the law to impose a work schedule without reasonable advance notice and discussion with the union,” Lindall said.
“It’s something we could grieve. We’ll look at our options under the contract or under the law. But what’s important to the people is to make sure libraries remain open. They don’t want both sides to agree on how to close libraries. Hopefully, we’ll be able to reach an agreement that can avert the reduced hours on a permanent basis going forward and bring the 176 library employees back from layoffs.”
http://www.suntimes.com/...
“They have a duty to inform the union, and to discuss with the union changes in the schedule,” said Lindall, referring to City Hall and library administrators. “It can’t be unilaterally implemented, and we want to meet with them to have those discussions.”
http://www.wbez.org/...
“Whether a reduction in hours comes for four hours on two days a week or eight hours on one day is not acceptable to people of the city who want and deserve access to their libraries at all times. They shouldn’t be forced to accept reduced access,” Lindall said.
“We haven’t seen a proposal from the city that would prevent those reduced hours. We’ve had discussions. Those discussions continue. We hope to reach an agreement to prevent reduced hours and rescind the layoffs.”
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/...
Aldermen, meanwhile, are angry with Emanuel for what they believe is a broken agreement they had with the mayor. 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack told the Sun-Times:
"It’s completely contrary. We need to sit down quickly and get back to the original agreement, which was keep those libraries open” every day.
http://chicagoist.com/...
CPL is citing budget cuts that led to layoffs for the decision to close on Mondays. The move, they say, will allow them to maintain services, but with fewer staff.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposed 2012 budget included significant cuts to the library system, which led to librarians and supporters of the system to start a campaign to block the cuts. 28 aldermen also sent Emanuel a letter that expressed hope he would reconsider.
http://chicagoist.com/...