TCPL PSA Bargaining Update: Day Ten

TCPL DAY TEN Update - 7/22/25

Labor Attendees: Jeremy Jordan, Joyce Wheatley, Asia Bonacci, Regina DeMauro (Negotiations Team), Lonnie Everett (UAW International Zone Rep), John Tavares (UAW Local 2300 President), Shelby Buche, SSA representative

Management Attendees: Peter Jones (Outside Library Counsel), Kathy Weinberg (Board of Trustees President), Tonya VanCamp (TCPL Business Manager)

Labor shared updated version of Current Contract List; reviewed, edited and initialled by all (see attachment).

Labor asked for Forework update (re: 7. TIME CARDS), specifically, could the system allow us to enter time manually? This is the preferred method of a majority of PSA members who answered the google poll. Management declined to answer whether the system can accommodate this method; they indicated that they do not want to allow us to enter time manually.

Labor asked to table the Forework discussion, pending more information.

Management presented their compensation proposal, attached (dated by Labor). Note that it includes a request that “Parties withdraw PERB charges,” which is a violation of the UAW’s duty of fair representation. Management claimed that they are in a worse financial situation than they were when the unsanctioned TA was presented, but provided no evidence to support such a claim. Labor presented financial information gleaned from publicly available financial statements (Tompkins County Public Library Balance Sheet and Statement of Revenues and Expenditures through the end of March 2025). These financial statements do not support management’s claim of financial hardship.

Labor presented their compensation proposal (attached). Labor’s arguments for the proposal were presented as follows:

● We are supportive of bringing the Page position up to a living wage and understand SSA concerns surrounding wage compression, given that currently, 2 out of the 6 support titles are being paid below the living wage

● For pages and clerks to be brought up to a living wage, pages must receive a 13% wage increase

● 13% increase should be applied to all titles, to avoid wage compression. Wage compression, also known as pay compression or salary compression, occurs when there's little difference in pay between employees, regardless of their experience, skills, or seniority

● PSA has an interest in maintaining attractive, competitive wages as we perform specialized skills for the central library (serving over 100,000 community members)

Following Labor’s presentation, and after scheduling upcoming dates, the meeting adjourned.

Next bargaining dates:

Thursday, July 31   1:30-5

Wednesday, August 6   1-4