April 24, 2023 

Dear colleagues, 

We, the undersigned workers of Salt Lake City Public Library (SLCPL), hereby express our intent to join together and form a union as SLCPL Workers United through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1004. As proud upholders of an institution governed by the principles of democracy, we assert that now is the time for SLCPL to extend those principles to its staff. 

We, the essential workers who perform the library’s most critical tasks;   
who know our patrons best;   
who are often put in vulnerable and unpredictable situations as public facing staff; 
and who keenly feel and observe the effects of every policy and procedure, demand to have a governing role in the daily operation of our beloved library.    
 
We applaud the library’s stated goals of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  However, we know these goals will not be achieved without an equitable division of power: a diverse group of decision makers that is inclusive of those with and without financial means, degrees, access to healthcare or the privilege of working from home.   
 
Currently, the status quo does not benefit everyone.  Every day we see how burnout and low morale affect essential staff at SLCPL. Too often, our concerns are minimized or ignored while leadership enacts policies unilaterally; this is in addition to the fact that many of us struggle with housing instability, food insecurity and lack of access to healthcare. 

Our union will benefit everyone who works at the SLCPL because it will give real voice to all of us without whom the library could not function.  An independent, accountable, democratically governed body is being formed. We call on all SLCPL staff to join our union, lend your voice and together we will advocate for our priorities and meaningfully improve our beloved library for everyone. Join us! 

In solidarity, 

Salt Lake City Public Library Workers United