SALT LAKE CITY — Despite potential headwinds from a new state law barring public collective bargaining agreements, which is now likely headed for the ballot, Salt Lake City librarians made Utah history this week by voting to unionize.
A whopping 92% of Salt Lake City Public Library employees voted to unionize during a formal vote that wrapped up on Thursday, union officials said on Friday. They now join the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1004, which represents many other Salt Lake City employees, setting up negotiations for what could be the first-of-its-kind collective bargaining agreement in the state — should HB267 be overturned.
“We, as workers, are looking forward to negotiating our first contract. We’ve always been here for our community, and we finally have the tools to advocate for ourselves and for each other,” said Christina Ordonez, a Salt Lake City associate librarian, in a statement after the votes were tallied…