300 Timberland library workers join Council 2

ALTHOUGH THEY already belonged to an existing employee association, workers at the Timberland Regional Library Staff Association decided earlier this year to switch to Council 2.

“They felt that, with the library system facing a budget shortfall of $2.5 million for 2010, they needed the assistance of a larger organization with better resources,” says Council 2 Director of Organizing Bill Keenan.

The system serves 421,000 people through 27 branches in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties.

Because the workers already had a contract and were an organized bargaining unit, the decision to join Council 2 was the subject of an internal secret ballot, similar to those processed by the Public Employees’ Relations Commission. The election, held toward the end of August, saw an 86 percent voter turnout — largest in the organization’s history — with 71 percent voting to join Council 2.

The employees’ contract expires at the end of the year. Now they will bargain a new contract with Council 2’s help.