Baltimore County Public Library workers win the legal right to organize (and a comment)

 From the AFL-CIO:

Top Cut:
The Machinists (IAM) union, which represents Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) workers, is celebrating the passage of the Library Workers Empowerment Act, a milestone piece of legislation initiated by the IAM last year that will grant library staff across Maryland the right to organize.

Why It Matters:
The legislation, cross-filed as H.B. 609 and S.B. 591, received bipartisan support in the Maryland General Assembly. Once the bill is signed by Gov. Wes Moore, it will empower public library workers to be able to form unions and collectively bargain for the wages, benefits and working conditions they deserve. Currently, library staff in only four counties and Baltimore City can organize, but this bill extends this critical right to libraries throughout the state.

“The IAM and its members extend their deepest gratitude to the legislators who supported this piece of legislation and to the library employees who have tirelessly advocated for their rights,” said IAM Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) Local 4538 President and Library Service Assistant Anita Bass. “This achievement is a testament to the power of solidarity and the importance of standing together for the betterment of all workers.”

Comment: Baltimore is on the other side of the country so readers of this blog may wonder what this post is doing here. We want to celebrate labor wins wherever and whenever they occur, but we also want to help people think through what it takes to organize a union. Not all workers have the legal right to organize, but all workers can organize. Where people do not have legal protections to organize it may make sense to start with winning changes in law and then, when the changes are won, fight for a strong union contract. But a union of one kind or another can be built under almost any conditions, and the earlier workers learn about building and exercising their power the better. Do you know any situations where workers want to organize but hit systemic barriers? There are many organizations that can help. Hit out blog and let's talk. Hats off to the IAM for this great win!