LIBRARY BOARD, PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT IMPASSE

The Board of Trustees of the Tompkins County Library, acting through its Executive Committee, today informed the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) that it is at impasse in its collective bargaining negotiations with the Professional Staff Association (PSA) unit of Local 2300 of the United Auto Workers. The Library asked PERB to appoint an impartial professional mediator to assist in the ongoing negotiations. The existing contract with the SSA expired on December 31, 2005.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, Board President Henrik N. Dullea expressed the desire that PERB’s involvement would finally help to bring about a new contract for the professional staff employees who are represented by the PSA.

“We have been ready to negotiate a multi-year agreement with the PSA since the fall of 2005,” said Dullea. “With the helpful involvement of a PERB-appointed state mediator, the Library recently reached a tentative agreement with the Support Staff Association representing the Library’s clerical and support staff employees. We believe that we are very close to reaching a mutually beneficial contract with the PSA, and we hope that the assistance of a state mediator at this time will bring this process to a successful conclusion.”

For more information contact Dullea at (607) 227-2104.