Cleveland Public Library Employees Set Strike Date of August 24 as Negotiations Continue

Unionized Cleveland Public Library employees are poised to strike August 24.

That is, if a re-negotiated bargaining contract isn’t agreed upon between the workers’ union, Service Employees International Union District 119, and the library by noon that day.

Roughly 400 employees are involved in the current contract negotiations, though it’s hard to say exactly how many will strike if negotiations go south, CPL spokesperson Andrianna Sheriff wrote Scene in an email.

Seven bargaining meetings have happened, including one Friday afternoon, since Scene broke the news of the strike authorization vote on July 14. Pay increases, staff shortages, outsourcing and workplace safety are all issues on the table.

“Because negotiations are ongoing, the library cannot discuss specific proposals or areas of disagreement,” Sheriff told Scene.

“Our focus is on reaching an agreement that supports our employees,” she said, “while ensuring the library can continue providing sustainable, high-quality programs and services to the community.”

If those 400 do strike, CPL’s Main Building and its two dozen other branches will attempt to stay open in some capacity, as they did during the pandemic, an employee not authorized to comment to media told Scene in July. Meanwhile, CPL said in a statement it has plans in place to keep libraries open.

“I don’t know if we could keep all of our 27 branches open though,” an employee said.

Another said the August 24 date is a worst-case scenario.

“We’ve been working under an expired contract for seven months and the people are getting angry,” they said. “We’re hoping our administration and the union can come to a fair agreement before we go on strike.”

An SEIU representative was not available for comment.