Brandeis library union to rally midday Wednesday

Library union staff at Brandeis University are holding a rally Wednesday at noon on campus to highlight their demands in ongoing contract negotiations with the university.

In a written statement, union leaders said they have been in contract negotiations for the past eight months and have had 16 bargaining sessions with university management. On Jan. 23 a union delegation presented the administration with a petition signed by more than 300 employees demanding a fair contract.

Unresolved issues include salaries and the contracting out of union work, according to the statement.

Union spokesperson Thom Valicenti said, “We believe that our last rally applied pressure on the university to actually engage with our proposals, and so what we hope to achieve with [Wednesday’s] rally is to keep this pressure on until we have a fair contract.”

Union negotiators are seeking salary remediation for individuals who have fallen behind the minimum hiring range for their positions as well as cost-of-living increases and small longevity increases for years of service.

Members who have been at the library for more than 20 years are currently making less than their replacements would make on the day they are hired, the union said.

The university’s latest offer was a 2.25% yearly increase, while the Consumer Price Index for the Boston metro area has averaged 3.1% for goods and services, according to the union.

The union also said the university wants to contract out union work, with no restrictions. Despite what the union said are management claims that this will not affect the employment or benefits of current union members, the union contends “this fundamentally erodes the bargaining power and protections of union workers threatening the very union itself.”

University spokesperson Amy Morton said the collective bargaining agreement has been extended through March 31.

“The university and the union have met more than 15 times for negotiation sessions and have reached agreement on many issues. There are a few outstanding issues left to resolve, which include wage increases,” said Morton, senior vice president, marketing communications.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 6.

“We are hopeful that the contract will be resolved in the very near future,” she said.

CORRECTION: The last two sentences were inadvertently omitted when the story was posted. They have now been included.