Mississippi Valley Library District workers form union with AFSCME

In the Mississippi Valley Library District, workers at the Fairmont City and Collinsville libraries have a simple mission: to keep libraries safe, open, and welcoming to all members of the community, no matter who they are. 

Unfortunately, like many libraries across the country, those in the district have found themselves under assault by right-wing efforts to limit what books are available and what programming is allowed.

This assault began a few years ago, when reactionary library board members were elected. They immediately began attempting to force their extreme political agenda on the library and the community.

The board banned pride displays, removed books from library shelves, and inserted itself into the process of selecting books for circulation. Then they threatened the jobs and benefits of the workers who do everything they can to make the library a safe space for everyone, with the board president questioning at a public meeting why 100% of medical care is covered for staff.

In response, library workers decided to fight back by organizing a union with AFSCME. While workers love their job, the treatment by library board members brought them together to make sure their jobs are secured by a contract that can’t be infringed upon by political actors.

“We’re really lucky where we’re at. We get good benefits,” says Amy Noakes, a leader of the union and a circulation supervisor at Collinsville library. “But I don’t want anyone to feel like anyone has anything to lose with their job. I want people to come to work and feel safe to be there.”
Mississippi Valley Library District workers are also looking to make sure that the library stays safe and open for everyone. 

“I just want people to come in and see items that represent them and be able to come and tell us anything,” Noakes said. “And I wish people weren’t out there trying to make it so hard. We are a public library. We should be available to everyone.