Baltimore County Library Workers Vote To Form Union

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A group of 460 Baltimore County Public Library full and part-time employees across the county’s 19 branches recently voted 77 percent in favor of joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

The vote comes after years of organizing, which included the IAM winning a new state law allowing BCPL employees to collectively bargain. The law, sponsored by State Del. Cathi Forbes and State Sen. Shelly Hettleman, went into effect on July 1, 2021.

In a tweet posted Friday, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski praised vote supporting BCPL employees' unionizing.

"Unions are the backbone of a strong middle class, and I wholeheartedly embrace the right of employees to unionize and collectively bargain," Olszewski said. "I thank all those who helped fight to make this day a reality for BCPL employees."

In a news release, some BCPL employees said the decision to unionize comes out of a desire for more transparency and communication from BCPL leadership and healthcare benefits for part-time employees.

“This is so exciting for Baltimore County Public Library workers,” said Anita Bass, a BCPL Circulation Assistant III at the Essex branch. “This will empower the staff of BCPL to continue to do the important work of fulfilling BCPL’s mission and vision. We need a system in place to protect and support each other and a legally binding contract will give us that. I believe in the BCPL mission and I know the IAM will help us accomplish that mission.”

“Baltimore County Public Library employees have always been a critical pillar to our community, and now especially during the pandemic,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Bridget Fitzgerald, lead organizer on the campaign. “I could not be more proud of these professionals for joining together and standing strong for what they deserve. This is a victory for them, their families and all of Baltimore County, which rightfully relies on a strong and inclusive library system

The IAM is now in the process of scheduling negotiations with BCPL management. County statute stipulates that negotiations must conclude by March 1, 2022.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.

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