Public Employee Press

Queens Library
Members rehired and bosses fired

A four-year union fight-back campaign ended in victory as the Queens Borough Public Library agreed in July to rehire over 40 laid-off workers. The library's decision came just in time, as the four-year callback list was to expire in September.

"I am very excited about returning," said Kwei-Hwei Wu, who was among 43 clerical workers and a security guard laid off by the library in 2010.

"This is great," said Queens Library Guild Local 1321 President John Hyslop. "We are extremely happy that the administration agreed to do this, because it will significantly improve library services to the public." From the day the workers were laid off four years ago, Local 1321 waged an aggressive campaign to demand that the library bring them back.

With the support of DC 37 and the backing of the union's three other library locals, Local 1321 kept steady pressure on the library. Members demonstrated, signed an online petition, sought help from the Queens Borough President's office and reached out to members of the Queens City Council delegation, including Deputy Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and Daniel Dromm, and Council member Vincent Gentile, a library advocate.

The breakthrough finally came this summer when Hyslop met with Human Resources Director Angelica Huynh.

The timing of the tense meeting was critical. It occurred after the city budget had added $2 million to the library's funding and after the Daily News reported that QBPL's trustees had offered embattled President Thomas Galante a two-year $820,000 consulting job as an incentive to resign.

The consulting deal and the library's improved financial health undercut management's persistent claim that the library couldn't afford to bring back the workers.

Four of the laid-off workers had been reinstated when the library held an orientation for the rehired workers Aug. 25 at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica. Wu was relieved that she would again have a full-time job with health insurance and other benefits. Her $270 weekly unemployment compensation did not even cover the cost of health insurance, she said. While she was out of work, her husband lost his job and the couple had to scrape by on savings and her earnings from part-time work at the library.

"We are proud of the political work we did and appreciative of the support we received from our political representatives," Hyslop said.

QBPL management is currently in disarray because of the controversy surrounding Galante, who is under investigation by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the FBI and the city Comptroller. The investigations came after the Daily News reported on Galante's fat compensation package, lavish spending and outside consulting.

In June, a state law calling for management reform at QBPL was enacted, and in July Mayor Bill de Blasio and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz fired the trustees who had supported Galante.