Columbus Metropolitan Library workers are rallying ahead of a union vote, alleging that library management is engaging in union busting tactics. The workers, who are part of the proposed CML United union, claim that management has been providing misleading information to staff and has retaliated against employees who have been involved in union organizing efforts.

Union Busting Allegations

The workers have filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the State Employment Relations Board, alleging that the library’s termination of a worker who was involved in union organizing was unlawful and retaliatory. This is not the first time that the library has been accused of union busting, as an earlier Unfair Labor Practice Charge was submitted in April.

Columbus City Council member Rob Dorans spoke at a rally in support of the workers, calling the library’s actions “some of the most egregious union busting in the public sector I have ever seen.” Dorans also sent a letter to the library’s Board of Trustees, expressing his concern that the library’s leadership had failed to remain neutral during the unionization process.

The library has denied the allegations of union busting, stating that all employees have the right to participate in the democratic process. However, the workers claim that the library’s actions have been designed to intimidate and coerce them into abandoning their unionization efforts.

Union Vote

The union vote is scheduled to take place by mail from June 16-30, with the votes tabulated on July 7. The workers are hoping to form a union to improve their working conditions and to have a greater say in the decision-making process at the library.

Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.