Union Members Applaud Move By PG County Council to Boost Budget by $2.5 Million for Libraries

Monday, June 3, 2013

Union Members Applaud Move By PG County Council to Boost Budget by $2.5 Million for Libraries(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The union representing employees of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is praising a move by the County Council to boost library funding by $2.5 million. "We're very excited by what this means for our membership and for the community," said Joe Dickson, vice president serving on UFCW Local 1994/MCGEO's executive board and a PGCMLS employee. "Too often, library funding is neglected by politicians but Council Chair Andrea Harrison and her fellow councilmembers stepped up and recognized how very vital libraries are." "I'm so proud of our members, as well," continued Dickson. "They turned out at every town hall, and met with councilmembers on their own time to bring focus to the library budget and its inadequacies. This is an outstanding development." Some of the funding will go to boost the materials budget, improve the technology refresh and replace budget, and to hire new staff. The technology budget had been cut by 73 percent over the past five years. Employees have dealt with a severe staffing shortage at many of the library branches for a number of years. The budget boost will also allow wage enhancements for the staff; PGCMLS employees have not seen an increase in five years and the union reports that furloughs have actually decreased their salaries. - photo: UFCW 1994 members speak-out for library funding at community meetings; photo courtesy UFCW 1994

 

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