The union representing Cleveland Public Library workers has voted in favor of a contract, eliminating the possibility of a strike.
Union members were scheduled to have gone on strike Aug. 27 if workers hadn’t approved a contract. SEIU District 1199 represents about 400 CPL employees. The library’s board of trustees will vote on ratifying the contract at a special meeting Thursday afternoon, according to CPL’s website.
Union members rejected an earlier contract proposal Aug. 21 and were headed for a strike at noon on Aug. 24. After union members turned down the first contract proposal, both sides returned to the bargaining table to reach the three-year deal. If the strike had occurred, the library would have dialed back access to neighborhood branches while still allowing patrons to request books and pick them up curbside.
Negotiations had been going on for nearly a year, but both sides remained apart on several issues, including pay and benefits, before reaching agreement. In a news release, the union said the terms of the contract include:
- 15% average wage increases over three years.
- 5% retroactive wage payments back to January 2026. (The previous contract expired at the end of 2025.)
- Ratification bonuses of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees.
- Preserving an existing 15% cap on what employees pay as their share for healthcare.
- Four weeks of paid parental leave, which is a new benefit.
“This contract is a testament to the strength, determination, and solidarity of our members,” said Becky Williams, president of SEIU District 1199, in a news release.
Signal Cleveland has contacted CPL for comment. After Monday’s strike was called off, Felton Thomas Jr., the library’s CEO and executive director, said in a news release that he was glad the union and library had reached agreement.
“Our employees are at the heart of The People’s University, and we are deeply grateful for their dedication to serving Clevelanders,” he stated in the release.
