My workplace, a library in a red state, might seriously be going on strike soon. The board has been invaded by rightoids and they're floating the idea of introducing a content rating system for the books (its rightoids going after libraries like you've seen) that obviously is in bad faith and will be used to ban LGBT content, left wing theory, etc. We have multiple librarians threatening to quit, and at our morning meeting our director starting talking about a work stoppage. The (open to the public) board meeting is tomorrow night, and if things go bad, its probably strike time. The old lady librarians have actually had enough of right wing bullshit and are ready to risk their incomes, it's actually happening folks.

I'm just looking for general advice on doing this stuff. Like what should I prepare, who if anybody should I contact (for support)? We are not union.

  • utopologist [any]
    ·
    1 year ago

    CWA has been working to organize several of the library districts around my area, so even though you aren't union you might get in touch with them and see if they have any advice for your situation.

  • Frank [he/him, he/him]
    ·
    1 year ago

    I would suggest calling labor lawyers in your area and try to get some advice. For a public library you might be able to get some pro-bono advice from a civilly minded lawyer. They'd know the law in your area and be able to give relevant advice. If you have any union contacts they might be able to recommend a reliable lawyer.

  • Nagarjuna [he/him]
    ·
    1 year ago

    PR:

    So, a library strike is a pr stunt. You're not halting production, you're showing the public that a beloved class of workers is fed up.

    This makes public outreach the most important aspect. Yes, you need a picket line for the optics, but you also need to go make friends with lefty reporters. You need to get your shit boosted on every non-profit, church and leftist insta page. You need to go door knocking to get citizens to call decision makers and tell them they're upset.

    HOLD THE LINE:

    You and other pro-strike folks. need to talk to every one of your coworkers, get 90% of them to agree to strike. Have them sign a pledge. Talk to them about saving money.

    If you don't get 90%, your strike will probably break pretty quickly.

    PUT ON PRESSURE:

    Who are the decision makers? Where are they week? Do they have a small business you can picket? Do they have a church or charity you can shame them to? Can you tell their neighbors what they're up to?

    Create a plan for pressuring them in their non-library life. Organize tactics from least to most impactful. Make them more intense as you go. They won't stop because of an action but because of fear of the next action.

    FIND ALLIES:

    Find a local union that organizes libraries in your area and reach out. Tell them the situation and see if they can help. If you file for election, then you have more protections under the law.

    Also contact local leftists, make yourself serious, show that organizing is already happening, make a concrete, closed ended ask like "come to a planning meeting" or "come to the picket line"

    DSA and the IWW both sometimes help with these kinds of actions.

    DO YOUR HOMEWORK:

    Learn how to file ULPs (and what counts as a ULP) learn the unemployment process well enough to help your coworkers through it when you get fired (you can collect unemployment if you're fired for striking). Learn how to have an organizing conversation (labor notes and the IWW have resources on it).

    Good luck OP.

  • Dimmer06 [he/him,comrade/them]
    ·
    1 year ago

    1. If you're public sector the strike would almost certainly be "illegal". That doesn't mean they can force you back to work, but your labor law protections pretty much go out the window with an illegal strike.

    2. Strike funds, have money saved up for the strike. Start fundraising yesterday. Reach out to other organizations that might have money to donate. Basic necessities like food and hygiene products might also be good. Get extra medication if you need it and get any doctor's appointments out of the way before you go because you might not be able to access your health insurance.

    3. Nobody goes straight into a strike without testing how serious the members are about it. Strike authorization votes, petitions, etc. should all be done to make sure the membership is serious about it. The Teamsters at UPS won their tentative agreement because they were running practice pickets and had a 98% strike authorization vote.