July 7, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Neil Bhaerman, nbhaerman@oft-aft.org

Columbus Metropolitan Library Workers Win Union Vote

COLUMBUS — A strong majority of staff at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) voted to form their union, CML United, according to secret ballot election results released today by Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board (SERB). The results showed that 86% of valid ballots voted in favor of the union. The new union includes approximately 600 librarians, customer services specialists, youth engagement specialists, materials services associates, drivers, sorters, and other library workers.

“We stood together, across different branches and different job titles, because we know that CML is a stronger library system for our communities when workers have a voice,” said Nancy Gillespie, an Information Services Specialist at CML’s Whitehall Branch. “We not only know what changes are needed to improve conditions for CML workers, we also know what our patrons need and expect from their libraries because we’re the ones who have direct, daily communication with them.”

Workers at CML — Ohio’s third most visited library system according to the American Library Association — began organizing their union with OFT in 2024. Key issues that motivated workers to organize included safety, working conditions, and the library’s reliance on poorly compensated part-time employees. On December 12, 2025, workers filed for a union election with SERB by submitting signed union cards from a supermajority of eligible workers. Due to various delays, including extensions requested by CML management, the union election was scheduled more than six months after the initial filing.  

“Library workers are facing loss of funding, increasing demands from administration, and intensifying burnout all while still maintaining steadfast support to the communities we serve,” said Celeste Leffler, a Youth Engagement Specialist at CML’s Franklinton Branch. “Forming our union made sense because together we can find useful solutions and make sure that our hard work is respected.”

“As library workers, we are intentional about the research that goes into making a big decision, and this is no exception. It’s insulting to have fought against anti-union sentiment from management, and the implications that we don’t know what a union is or the benefits it could bring to us are disappointing,” said TJ Neer, a Customer Services Specialist at CML’s South High Branch. “We stayed united because of our insistence on knowledge and transparency and equity for all, both in the public and in our workplace. With the election now behind us, we are calling on the administration to recommit to working with us, and not against us, to ensure a fair, quick, equitable bargaining process.”

During the campaign, CML United filed three Unfair Labor Practice charges with SERB. One charge was over a series of misleading and intimidating anti-union documents, and the other two charges were over unfair terminations of CML United supporters. 

“Library workers are essential to the community. They help people find jobs and apply for unemployment and other social services, they assist students with homework, provide programming for kids of all ages, notarize documents, provide a safe space for everyone in our community, and they are the custodian of knowledge, local, national and world history and current events,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “That’s why it’s such a big deal that Columbus library workers have a voice at work and can advocate for themselves and the people they serve.”

Since 2021, library workers at six Ohio library systems – five of which are in the Columbus metropolitan area – have come together and successfully formed unions with the Ohio Federation of Teachers. Workers at all six of those systems (Worthington Libraries, Grandview Heights Public Library, Pickerington Public Library, Upper Arlington Public Library, Delaware County District Library, and Athens County Public Libraries) have won contracts with guaranteed improvements to wages, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, benefits, and protection against unfair treatment at work. 

“The values that underpin our libraries, like intellectual freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion, are under a sustained attack and it’s up to us as library workers to fight back,” said Libby Vasey, an Adult Services Librarian at Worthington Libraries and President of Worthington Public Libraries United. “We’re so happy for Columbus Metropolitan Library workers on their union win and can’t wait to work alongside them in our fight for strong libraries in Ohio that are open to all.”

“Our members across Ohio — in public libraries, K-12 schools, higher education, and social service agencies — are thrilled to welcome CML workers into our union,” said Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. “They’ve built a strong collective voice and they’re ready to negotiate a fair contract that respects workers and patrons and protects the core values the library was founded on.”

In addition to consistent supermajority support among eligible workers, CML United’s campaign was buoyed by broad public support. Nearly 1,000 library patrons and community members wrote to CML’s Board of Trustees and CEO asking them to respect their workers and commit to neutrality throughout the union election process. The entire Columbus City Council, most state legislators who represent parts of Franklin County, the Columbus Education Association, Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, and other unions and community leaders also reached out to CML’s leadership in support of the union.  

“When management hears people say they love our libraries, they think people are talking about the buildings, but they’re talking about us. There's no library without library workers.” said Jude Virostko, an Adult Services Librarian at CML’s South High Branch. 

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The Ohio Federation of Teachers is a state federation of 65 local unions representing more than 20,000 members who are active and retired public school teachers and staff, higher education faculty and staff, social workers, library workers, and public employees. OFT works to advance quality public education and higher education, intellectual freedom, and a voice in the workplace for Ohio’s education, public service, and social work professionals. OFT is affiliated with the 1.8 million member American Federation of Teachers.