Thoughts on library unions?
So some months ago I made a post that turned out to be pretty controversial. I asked this community if it's worth it to stay at a part-time job at a library that has just unionized (despite the job currently having low pay) and wait for the contract to be established, or if it's better to jump ship and look for something more realistic for my current needs.
(You can look back at the post on my profile, it's admittedly messy and I got defensive. Sorry about that. And update, I'm still at the job, though actively looking for a job with a better commute and better pay. The job market has slightly improved, so I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time. And no matter what I'm getting a tiny raise which will mildly improve my hourly wage, and I may be able to work slightly more hours in the future. Gotta celebrate small victories.)
I have to admit though, I am shocked that it seemed like a lot of people have super mixed or even negative opinions on library unions. I have to admit, as I've worked with my library's union, I've certainly experienced some questionable things. But ultimately, we have made great progress towards getting a contract established, and almost everyone I've talked to irl loves their unions and seem to be very supportive of unionization.
So I want to take a step back and open it up to some more general questions - What have your experiences been with your library unions? Do you think unionization is worth it? What are the pros and cons? What are the best benefits your union offers? Or has your union screwed you over? 😅 Open to all voices and opinions!