Lirbaries - Next In Line for Union Power Grab

As described in an earlier post, Maryland’s unions are in decline as manufacturing jobs continue to leave because of our state’s anti-business climate.

Maryland Democrats are desperate for new ways to grow unions because of their one-party focus for political fundraising, PAC contributions and get-out-the-vote campaigns. Therefore, the public sector is the prime target for legislation that requires mandatory union representation.

Senate Bill 225 would require the employees of all county library systems throughout the state to be represented through collective bargaining by a union. One problem with the bill is that it is sponsored primarily by Senators from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties – the two charter counties that have already adopted a local collective bargaining ordinance for library employees. Where are the sponsors from the other jurisdictions that would be affected by this bill?

In the other jurisdictions, the fact is that county library employees do not want union representation. As reported by Alan Brody in The Gazette: “. . . library administrators said union leaders, not rank-and-file employees, are the driving force behind the bill. ‘The problem here is the process with a union trying to come in and force the issue,’ said Sharan Marshall, director of the Southern Maryland Regional Library Association in Charlotte Hall.” (see Gazette.net click here)

The union at issue is UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO (Municipal and County Government Employees Organization). Their website contains an online “letter to the legislators” campaign to lobby in support of the bill’s passage (to see the MCGEO website click here). 

It is a classic union battle. Union organizers see a large population of unrepresented workers that would provide a bonanza of union dues. The rank-and-file librarians see no advantage to be forced to unionize.

Who will prevail? When Maryland Democrats thrive from the campaign boost given by unions on Election Day, the wishes of the rank-and-file county library workers are easily ignored by legislators. Just ask the home day care providers who were steamrollered when Governor Martin O’Malley ordained their mandatory representation by executive order at the request of union organizers.