TCPL Support Staff Association Contract Negotiations Update 5/8/2026

Dear SSA Siblings,

We met with Library Management today May 8th, from 1pm-4pm.

Management present: Emerson Demeester-Lane, Kathy Weinberg

Labor present: Mitchell Hall, Katylyn Hulbert, Sam MacQueen, Shelby Buche, Chauncey Bennett, Lonnie Everett

During today's bargaining session, we began by returning to discussion on Proposal 1 regarding discharge and discipline rights for employees. Management offered a proposal which would alter the order of progressive discipline steps while maintaining Labor's request for a fair hearing outside of arbitration. We talked at length about how the Library's current progressive discipline process has functioned in the past and Management shared their experience with other progressive discipline structures (such as minor discipline infractions versus major discipline infractions, each having the possibility of improvement periods). Both parties agreed to continue discussing this proposal language. Management shared resources from Language Learning International to work toward establishing a standard grade of language fluency levels as we continue to discuss Bilingual Pay.

Management and Labor edited language so that wages can be reviewed in 2027, after new data is published, in order to maintain Living Wage for all staff.

Labor agreed to wage increases for the remaining 2025 positions, as well as all positions in 2026 and 2027. Management was not willing to commit to offering additional Summer Saturdays at time-and-a-half but was willing to offer a one-time ratification bonus of $1250. Labor advocated for a one-time ratification bonus of $1000 plus 12 hours of compensatory time for each member (equivalent to $300+).

Labor presented a proposal to clarify that negotiated raises will be applied as soon as possible, and that back pay for increases in 2025 and 2026 will be paid no later than July 1st. Management was in general agreement, and suggested calculating backpay using gross, rather than net income, as was offered to PSA earlier this year. Briefly, this would mean retroactive compensation increases are calculated in the employee's favor, aka more money for us. We are set to agree to this with slightly edited language next session.

Labor continued to caucus until 5pm to further discuss Management's proposals and resources regarding Bilingual Pay and Discharge & Discipline, which we plan to present counters for during our next session.

We've attached our Tentative Agreement for compensation increases and one-time stipend (I apologize that it's sideways).

Our next Association meeting is next Tuesday at 3pm in Borg Warner. Our next negotiation date is scheduled for next Wednesday, May 13th, from 11am-3pm.

In Solidarity,

Support Staff Association Negotiation Team 2026