UK Magazine Managing Information reports that the UK based Prospect trade union will launch “The Librarians and Information Professionals Group of Prospect” and will be inviting corporate and government librarians to join. Group chair Suzanne Burge explained, “Professional bodies exist to represent their professional interests – that is very different to an effective trade union that can negotiate pay and conditions on their behalf. Traditionally librarians have often not been well paid. It is time their growing range of skills were recognised by employers.â€?
Here here!
Unfortunately, information professionals from public libraries or educational institutions need not apply.
Why not all librarians?
I wish the article said why these two categories are excluded. Is it a UK-specific law of some sort?
Look for the union label …. … it might be a question of public and academic librarians already being covered by local trade unions for library employees and/or university staff. After all, most corporate librarians in the US (with some exceptions like news librarians) aren’t covered by bargaining units of any union.
Just a thought
Good in theory
Does this mean Prospect will be fighting for extra pay and better opportunities for Chartered Librarians? Let’s hope so!
Re:Look for the union label ….
Yes, that’s it exactly. Other unions exist in these areas, and we’re not looking to poach members, just to recruit in areas where informationa professionals haven’t had an obvious union to choose in the past.
Re:Good in theory
We like to think that’s what we’re doing already, but we hope the relaunched group will help us to do more. Unfortunately most employers in our sectors don’t formally recognise the valuing of chartering, so that’s another battle.