Recently my library system decided that, we are in the middle of a recession. Shocker, huh?
At a meeting management unleashed their new plan to deal with budget issues. Included with this was the termination of ALL part time staff. That's right. All. This is close to 150 or so people. There will be about 40 or so part time jobs that will be open in the next fiscal year. Current part time employees have been invited to apply to gain these
positions. When trying for these positions, seniority will not be a factor.
Can you say "popularity contest"? I can.
Many attended this informatory meeting, few survived. However some of the employees caught the tidbit thrown in the middle of the speech about how everyone was special. This tidbit mentioned that they had been looking at this problem for over a year.
OVER A YEAR folks.
While this current plan will allow the library to survive - barely- let us take a look at how the management has handled things for
over a year in response to this growing crisis.
Management has been continuing to hire, and promote, tons of new employees. Almost every week or so we received news
announcements saying to welcome a new employee, or that that employee was promoted to a position that was not there before. Such as extra clerical positions.
Management received bonuses during this past year, and pay increases... they were doing such a great job, they deserved them.
Management sent employees to an expense-paid conference near San Diego, at an exclusive resort.
Management encouraged employees to go here, there, and
everywhere for trainings that were nice, but not vital to the library system.
This year of increased expenses, when they KNEW what the next fiscal year was looking like makes no sense.
Why not do a hiring freeze last year? Reduce some library hours? Limit promotions? Start cutting non-essential staff positions in light of budget cuts.
What are non-essential staff positions, you might ask. Here is a list:
1) Librarian trainees- These are trainees for librarian positions that we are not going to create. 40K a year each.
2) Our P.R. manager. Public relations is nice, but since we now have no budget for many programs and activities, do we really need an 80K a year P.R. person to send formulaic calendars, that will just say when our remaining storytime hours are, to the printer? This job could be done by a secretary or another manager. 80K could help a lot of others keep their jobs.
3) Payroll & accounting. Our staff is getting slashed. How many accountants do we need to process payroll? How about going from 3 to 2?
No, all of the above positions are remaining. Part time employees who are "lucky" enough to come back
will be given anywhere from 10-20 hours a week, maximum. Not the 30-35 that they need to survive.
This includes a woman who has worked for the library for 25 years, and who has a daughter to support.
A young woman, and dear friend of mine, who has worked for the library for several years. Her husband is getting laid off from his job.
Another dear friend who works her butt off, and who has a few cats and a new puppy to support.
College students who are paying for housing.
A husband and wife, in their late teens, who just got married.
These are some of the people who are being displaced, who make factions less than non-essential positions... while the library has been tossing money around for the last year. Their jobs could have been saved by just being a little bit frugal.
Does this affect your dearly beloved
Berserker? Well, my job is safe. But it does affect me. These are my friends. My extended family. These are the people I share everything with. Yes, this does affect me.
My friends, I love you all. I want to grab on to you and say "Don't go. Don't leave me." I'm selfish. This hurts, so very much.
NEVER SAY GOOD-BYE
The thought & fact that you’re going
Is something I will never believe,
To me this is all a joke
Like someone is playing a game with me
At times we could not stand each other
But yet I still loved you
So now that you’re leaving me
What shall I ever do
Being here without you
Is something I just can’t see
Life, period, without you
Is just not right to me
I know there will be no on like you
No one with your unique style
You are so special to me
Now who will keep me from going senile?
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