Today, staff at Penn Libraries filed a petition for union representation to join our library colleagues in AFSCME DC 47, Local 590. We are librarians, curators, developers, archivists, fellows, educators, scholars, makers. We are Penn Libraries United!
Last week, we announced our intent to unionize with supermajority support, and contacted senior management at Penn Libraries to request voluntary recognition of our union. Our message to senior management stated... 🧵
Penn grad workers and Bargaining Committee members are sending solidarity to
@pennlibunited
as Penn Libraries staff prepare to vote in their union election tomorrow!
Penn’s anti-union messaging has already started, and they’re following the standard union busting playbook. We’re keeping track on this bingo card of what we’ve seen so far!
We’ve debunked management’s misinformation about raises and union dues, all clearly explained on our website: .
We got our facts from reading the
@AFSCME590
contract and talking to union members, we’re not sure where management got theirs 🤔
From Rebecca: I support Penn Libraries United because…the Libraries is stronger and better able to serve our patrons when workers are not arbitrarily divided!
We look forward to working together with
@AFSCME590
members to better our working conditions and better serve our research communities! Stronger together 💪
The members of
@AFSCME590
stand in solidarity with members of Penn Libraries United. We look forward to welcoming our sisters, brothers and siblings after a successful election on August 7th and 8th and you moving forward to negotiations that address your issues and concerns. 1/2
It’s been over 6 months since UC-AFT and the university began negotiating the economic plan for our contract, including wages, benefits, and professional development. (1 of 3)
We’re grateful to members of Local 590 for welcoming us and supporting our campaign! We’ll be sharing some of their messages of support. Here is one from Katy:
It’s hard to know where to start with all the misinformation Penn has been sharing 😂Penn claims the
@AFSCME590
raises are lower than exempt staff but we’ve done the math 🧮 you can read more on our website: . 1/2
Penn’s anti-union messaging has already started, and they’re following the standard union busting playbook. We’re keeping track on this bingo card of what we’ve seen so far!
Across Philadelphia and the country, unions defend workers’ rights to flexible work arrangements and work from home benefits. Let’s put what Penn refers to as a “privilege” into a union contract 💪
Following an effort to unionize that began in June, Penn Libraries staff have successfully negotiated an agreement with the University and are set to hold their unionization election in August.