A group of library employees, who are members of SEIU 721, and union leadership met with Los Angeles County Library management Tuesday, July 13 to outline the flaws with the attempted implementation of a 4/40 schedule on all employees.
They detailed the meeting and discussed plans going forward at a separate meeting open to all library employees July 15.
The group of workers explained to library management that mandatory implementation violates the union contract and instead should be implemented on a voluntary basis, which is in accordance with our negotiated contract.
Library staff emphasized their commitment to maintaining quality library services to the public and to creating the best work environment possible for all employees.
What Library Management said:
- On purported cost savings: It is management’s position that the mandatory 4/40 schedule is within its right and is not related to layoffs and savings, rather cost avoidance in custodial, utilities and other operational expenses. By doing this the department expects to avoid falling in deficit in this Fiscal Year (2010-11).
- On mandatory implementation: The county incorrectly interpreted the contract and said it can implement the mandatory alternative work schedule. SEIU members and staff informed the county that we will continue with legal charges to maintain and defend the integrity of our contract.
- On proposed reassignments: They are on-hold until management provides union members with further information.
Next Steps:
We agreed to create two committees to address any hardships the 4/40 schedule may cause to some library staff.
- Hardship Committee
This committee will be made up of three SEIU 721 members with management representatives to create criteria for employees seeking an exemption from 4/40, create process to hear expedited appeals and render a decision of exemption based on the criteria established. - Joint labor-management committee on 4/40 Work Schedule
A new committee of four SEIU 721 members with management will evaluate the new scheduling after 60 days of its implementation and set benchmarks on how to address deficiencies of such work schedules. They will use staff and customer satisfaction surveys to evaluate the program and seek transfer opportunities to accommodate those who do not wish to participate in a 4/40 program. The committee will continue evaluating the 4/40 schedule on a quarterly basis after the initial 60 days into the next current fiscal year.
“Our union contract is important to our livelihoods – it guarantees our wages and health care benefits.
“It’s important we maintain its integrity, it can’t just be changed.”
Kim Peters, Library Assistant
Bargaining Unit 811, Chair
To be a part of the new committees or if you have any questions, please contact Sergio Barahona at Sergio.barahona@seiu721.org or (323) 308-8805.