I'm reaching out on a personal note. You know what an amazing asset the Nashua Public Library is to our community – not just the building and resources, but the people. I am doing some outreach to support them. Please share with anyone who might be interested.
As a Nashua resident, there are some big changes in the air of which you should be aware:
The library is preparing for a significant renovation. It is estimated that the city will spend approximately 45 million dollars to renovate the library building.
During the renovation process, the library will operate out of a temporary location. The move to the interim location will occur sometime in the Fall of 2027.
The plan is to have one service desk at the interim location, which is starkly different from the five public service desks we are all used to.
As you can imagine, there is apprehension among library staff. They do not know how they will be staffed, either during the renovation or when they are back up and running in the newly renewed, revamped NPL building. Library workers are understandably concerned about layoffs and furloughs, about the possibility of being given fewer hours to work per week with the same bills coming in the mail. And they are concerned about continuity, being able to offer the same excellent depth and breadth of service to the public amidst such significant changes.
While that renovation is a bit in the future, those facts provide an important backdrop to contract negotiations that are happening right now. These negotiations have been stalled and are currently at an impasse between the city and Nashua Public Library employees.
As I believe that our city should treat its library workers fairly and with dignity, I share this information with you in hopes that you will be inspired to stand with me to support our library workers.
As of today, NPL employees have been working for 96 days without a contract. They have been engaged in the contract struggle since February. A federal mediator has been brought in to assist in the process, but as they are heading into the third Federal Mediation session on October 15th, there is no agreement in sight.
It is reasonable for workers to expect that fair wage increases will match the rising cost of living. Current offers by the City Attorney are not in that range, and are not in alignment with the increases that have been negotiated in other city departments. Interestingly, at the same time that library workers are being low-balled, the city has given the Library Director an 8.17% raise, and the Assistant Director 11.45%, just in the last year. (These are publicly reported numbers.)
It has also been standard practice within the city that compensation following a stalled negotiation is retroactive to the expiration of the prior contract. NPL union employees are being told by City Attorney Bolton that any pay raise employees do get will not be retroactive and will not be paid out until 75 days after any agreement. (Bolton himself received an 8.51% raise on July 1st, also publicly reported.) The continued delays in settlement unfairly penalize library staff for working during negotiations.
The city is not acting in accord with its own standards. A published City Compensation Philosophy states, "The City wants to not only recruit the best and brightest employees but also retain those employees, even in a competitive marketplace." Yet, since the 2023 contract, 18 workers have moved on from the Nashua Public Library. To put that in perspective, the total number of NPL employees is around 37, so that is roughly half of the workforce turning over just in the past 3 years!
Following this message, I have attached the Statement directly from the Nashua Public Library workers for what they are seeking in their negotiations.
Here are the actions you can take to make a difference:
Join me at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court Street, on Tuesday October 6th at 6:45pm for the Library Board of Trustees meeting. You may demonstrate your support simply through your presence. Upon arrival, you may also choose to sign up to speak briefly on behalf of NPL workers. Your presence at the meeting will signal to the Trustees (and to the city) that the community we serve is aware of the contract situation and supports a fair outcome.
Whether or not you can attend the meeting, you may support employees by sending an email to the Library Trustees. Offer your support and urge the Trustees to instruct Attorney Bolton to negotiate with NPL employees in good faith. Emails may be sent to the NPL Trustees via Director McCormack: jennifer.mccormack@nashualibrary.org. (Please cc: mark.king@nplunion.org so that the library employees may see your solidarity on their behalf!)
As the city of Nashua prepares to invest deeply in the library infrastructure, I believe it is equally (or perhaps even more) important that we invest in the people who make the institution what it is. Our library workers deserve a raise that keeps pace with inflation, as well as security through the renovation process. And we, as community members, deserve the continuity of our library public services both amidst and post-renovation. Thank you for your consideration.
With warm regards,
Tanya Prather
Nashua Resident
Tanya Prather has been a resident of Nashua for 25+ years and is a long-time patron of Nashua Public Library. She believes "in the power of community to take care of each other."
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Nashua Public Library Workers Statement:
Support Nashua Public Library Workers:
Settle a Fair Contract Now
Our library’s value comes from the dedicated, trained staff who show up for our community every day, even after our contract expired June 30. We urge leadership to:
· Provide fair wages retroactive to July 1: Honor standard labor practices by ensuring wage increases match the rising cost of living and take effect retroactively to the expiration of the prior contract — rejecting arbitrary delays that penalize staff for working during negotiations.
· Guarantee job security and staffing continuity so workers and public services are protected throughout the renovation process.
· Bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that honors the essential work the library staff perform for Nashua taxpayers.
You cannot invest in building renovations while shortchanging the people who make it run. Settle a fair contract now.
