Use of subcontractors at Daniel Boone Regional Library is a sticking point. Here's why

The potential future use of subcontractors at Daniel Boone Regional Library on Tuesday was a sticking point between the library management and its union during the 22nd negotiation session between the two teams.

Daniel Boone Regional Library is the only unionized library in the state. Workers overwhelmingly voted to unionize in May 2022. Contract negotiations began several months later.

Union team members wore stickers reading "public library, public workers."

The union on Twitter: "Admin's most recent counters on subcontracting have them wanting to be able to subcontract out any of our work at any time. We will not be replaced by underpaid, private workers. It is a public library and it must be staffed by public workers."

"Public library work should not be subcontracted out," said Jane Billinger, chief negotiator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, of which Daniel Boone Regional Library Workers United is a part.

The comment received pushback from library director Margaret Conroy.

"How do highways get built?" Conroy asked.

Union negotiating team members Patrick Johnston and Carolyn Cain discussed the issue outside the meeting.

"The library's reputation comes from its staff," Cain said.

The workers provide a great service, Johnston said.

"That's why we're here," he said. "That's why we're fighting."

"We are striving to work with the administration," Cain said.

The library doesn't typically use subcontractors and there is no plan to expand their use, Conroy said outside the meeting.

"A lot of our approach is in preserving management rights" in library operation, Conroy said.

There has not ever been a thought of replacing library workers with subcontractors, she said.

Despite that and a few other sticking points, talks between the sides were friendly.

Another issue discussed was staff safety during harsh weather, a lot of it focusing on curbside service.

Conditions that would prevent the bookmobile from going out was another point. They include proper functioning of the bookmobile generator for heating and cooling and road conditions, a member of the management team said.

There shouldn't be written guidelines to dictate its operation, Conroy said.

"I believe that's management's role to make that decision," Conroy said. "Weather is unpredictable."

Likewise, wind chill shouldn't affect operation of curbside service, absent other factors, Conroy said. It takes only one to five minutes to provide curbside service, she said.

"We will discuss and get back to you," Billinger said.

"Our reasoning is the board is very concerned that when we have a final contract is agreed to that patron services are not harmed," Conroy said.

"It is not the union's goal to diminish patron services at all," Billinger said.

In providing services, management must keep staff safety in mind, she said.

A lot of Tuesday's session was the sides talking individually in private, known as a caucus.

Management will give the library board final approval of tentative agreements, Conroy said.

"It's better going forward that they have final approval on the TAs," she said.

It will help to avoid conflict in negotiations, she said.

Union members asked how quickly the library board can convene if it needs to.

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I wouldn't want to stretch this out," Billinger said.

The economic issues will be difficult and time-consuming, Conroy said.

"We're a little farther away than I had hoped," she said.

Management didn't have a wages and benefits proposal on Tuesday.

"We'll get it done when we get it done," she said. "I don't know what else to say."

The negotiations take time, Conroy said outside the meeting.

"The administation and the trustees have a responsibility to our patrons and taxpayers,' she said.

The upcoming economic negotiations will be difficult, she said.

"As a library director, I want to support our staff but we have to do it within our means," Conroy said.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here are the issues dividing union and management of Columbia library