Renewing the Labor Union and Library Partnership

Abstract

Library and information science (LIS) and labor unions have a long history of partnership in the United States of America (U.S.A.).  Since the early days of libraries, they have supported labor unions through providing access to computers, Internet access, labor-focused displays and programming, and materials that support workers. Labor unions have played a large role in supporting library workers through unionized staff, increasing library wages, worker safety and protection, and protecting against unsafe labor practices. Both groups shared similar goals until a shift was seen in the late twentieth century. In recent years, the partnership between libraries and unions has weakened through legislation. With law changes that effectively made every state in the U.S.A. a right-to-work state, there is a greater importance on libraries and labor unions renewing their partnership and focus to ensure workers inside and outside of libraries have their best interests protected. Labor education in LIS programs is lacking and could be better integrated into the LIS graduate program curriculum. This article looks at the historical work between libraries and labor unions with a turn toward how these two groups can work together going forward to restrengthen the partnership in today’s economic and political landscape.