County libraries close as rolling strikes enter 10th day

“Many in our community depend on the services our libraries have to offer but don’t always realize that we the workers do not have the resources we need.”

The Santa Clara County union workers strike entered its 10th day Saturday, affecting several public libraries throughout the county.

Workers at libraries in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Milpitas and Saratoga participated in the work stoppage, resulting in their closure for the day. Picketing workers instead gathered at the Cupertino Library to protest what they say are unfair labor practices. They also criticized the county for worker shortages and failure to hire and keep new staff.

“Many in our community depend on the services our libraries have to offer but don’t always realize that we the workers do not have the resources we need,” Lucia Leblanc, a library assistant in Cupertino, said in a prepared statement. “Too many of our co-workers are taking on extra work that doesn’t always reflect our job duties to meet the staffing shortages and it is not sustainable.”

Leblanc said in a Saturday interview that she expects library service to resume tomorrow.

“We’re asking people who come to the library today — we know that they’re the ones that value library services — to let the Board of Supervisors know how much they value library services,” she said.

Miguel Marquez, the county’s chief operating officer, said the county staff are working to keep as many services at those libraries open as possible, including any pre-scheduled events. He directed patrons to the library’s website for the latest news on the closures.

The labor dispute between Santa Clara County and its largest union, the Service Employees International Union Local 521, has previously affected the Social Services Agency, the Valley Medical Center, O’connor Hospital and other services.

The rolling strikes began on Oct. 2, but paused for several days amid PG&E power outages.

Union members are voting on the county’s “last, best and final” contract offer on Tuesday, but leaders called it “disingenuous to the process of good faith negotiations.” The offer, they said in a statement, does not address more than 1,500 vacancies affecting 911 dispatchers, social workers and others.

Marquez, however, said, “The county remains open as it always has to coming to agreement with them on a fair and equitable contract and one that is, most importantly, sustainable.”

— Lucia Leblanc, library assistant in Cupertino