American Library Association President Roberta Stevens on proposed collective bargaining legislation

As a member of the ALA, I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms the arrogation to herself by (ALA) President Roberta Stevens of speaking for all members of the ALA on the events in Wisconsin. It is no wonder that public support for libraries has been plummeting in recent years given the glaring leftist bias of librarians and the leadership of the ALA in particular.

Governor Walker’s duty is not to bankrupt his state by overseeing yet more featherbedding and lack of accountability to taxpayers that public sector unions specialize in. His job is to ensure that city and state officials can provide services cost effectively and efficiently and, unfortunately, that is often impossible given the intransigence and self-serving obstruction of the public sector unions.

At a time when public libraries are desperately in need of public support across the political spectrum, Stevens has alienated a huge number of people, not least a substantial number of those in her own membership who believe in libraries but not in the sort of hooliganism that the spoiled, whiny public sector employees of Wisconsin engaged in their state capitol building. They do not speak for all librarians and their antics only hurt their cause and that of libraries throughout the country.

The work of unions in the first half of the 20th century resulted in a strong belief in our country in worker’s rights in the workplace. As a result we have federal and state labor laws and agencies that regulate and safe-guard worker’s rights. We no longer need unions to protect worker’s rights - workers are already well protected by law.

What is truly scary about the ALA President issuing a statement supporting the protestors is that it is the antithesis of what librarianship is about. Librarians are about freedom of ideas and not taking sides. The point of librarians is that we provide access to content from all points of view and when we stop doing that we are no longer doing the work of librarians.

It is frigntening to think that ALA members think that ALA as an organization should not advocate for librarians in the workplace! Most of us are public employees of one kind or another. The proposed legislation in Wisconsin and Ohio would strike a blow against the working conditions, and pay, of every single one of us who works in a public library, a public school library, a special library in a public hospital. Not just in Wisconsin or Ohio, but in every state. If these two governors succeed, your state might be next in trying to destroy public employee unions, and public employees’ livlihoods.
We will never get rich in this profession, and we should not allow our fellow librarians to be attacked economically, or demonized, by state governments looking for scapegoats. Governors who give big tax breaks to corporations (like in Wisconsin) should not turn around and say, “our public employees have to pay for this.”

I totally agree with the statement made by “Can I get my dues back” when this individual stated “Since when did ALA (of which I am a member) ASK me if I wanted them to make this statement? Did you do a poll? Did you send an e-mail to all the members to ask yes or no, should we take a stand?” Frankly, I am getting quite weary of ALA speaking out on issues  that do not pertain to its membership and/or that do not fully represent the membership, such as this example, the current war, and other political issues. Not everyone is a fan of collective bargaining and there are some of us, me included, who, while not a member of the union, unfortunately fell under union rules resulting in loss of pay increases do to an adversarial attitude on the part of the union with the state government. Not everyone believes that unions are only working for the good of its members. I do not appreciate political statements being made by the elected officials of this organization without determining if this is truly the thinking of the majority of the membership. Our elected leaders should not take advantage of their positions to promote their own personal agendas and call it the official word of the organization as a whole.

This is THE primary reason I hesitated in renewing my ALA membership: because you have a penchant for sticking your nose where it totally does not belong! Since when did ALA (of which I am a member) ASK me if I wanted them to make this statement? Did you do a poll? Did you send an e-mail to all the members to ask yes or no, should we take a stand? Can I get my dues back and get out of this organization that does not represent me in any way, shape or form? Not really Anonymous Fay

Is the ALA a union leader for all of its members? Please remember ALA that you also speak for non-school librarians, who do not wish to be dumped into the same political fracas as the afflicted in Wisconsin.  Not to downplay their situation, but just to remind that there are many librarians who may not be pro-collective bargaining.

I’m glad that ALA finally decided to take a position on the attack against U.S. workers. Labor rights are human rights.http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=28575

This is also big news in Ohio, with thousands protesting at the State House this week, but I have not heard much about it on national news.  We are not union, but all workers should have the right to negotiate.

 to see  ALA take a position on worker rights and labor action.  Joyce M. Latham