Dartmouth College Library Workers' United Vote to Join Council 93

Hanover, NH- Today, June 13th, Dartmouth College Library Workers' United (DCLWU) voted overwhelmingly to join AFSCME Council 93. In a National Labor Relations Board administered mail ballot election, the library profressionals supported forming a union by a vote of 63-11. 

The workers had initially reached out to Council 93 last year with concerns over compensation, staffing, lack of clear guidelines on advancement, and wanting to have a voice to make Dartmouth Libraries fairier and more equitable for all. 

The unionization campaign went public in April when dozens of library workers and supporters gathered in Dartmouth's Baker-Berry Library to annouce that they had filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. The workers then marched on the offices of the Dean of Libraries and College Provost asking for voluntary recognition for their union. 

After the vote, DCLWU said "We're grateful to everyone who voted. The support for union representation and collective bargaining humbles us. And we look forward to working with everyone, especially those who voted against unionization. We have found our voice. One library. One union."

After the votes were tallied, Eddie Nastari- Council 93's Director of Field Services and Organizing noted the effort it takes to successfuly win a union election "thank you to everyone whose help and dedication to organizing made today's victory possible - the organizing committee, the workers, and our Council 93 staff. Welcome to AFSCME Council 93 DCLWU!"

The DCLWU will now work with AFSCME Council 93 staff to negotiate a first contract. 

Through AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United campaign, workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions are building power across the country. More than 10,000 museum workers at more than 100 cultural institutions in the public and private sectors have formed unions through AFSCME, as have more than 25,000 library workers at 275 public and private libraries.

To learn more about the DCLWU visit - https://www.dclwu.org/