[Web4lib] Outsourcing in the Ivy League

[Robert Balliot]

I think the *intent* is good.  The tone of the rhetoric is fairly typical of
the union representation here.

Years ago before OSHA and the various laws passed to protect workers, the
value of union representation was much more tangible. They were able to
protect basic rights of employees.  Now, many of those protections are built
into existing laws and the value of dues much more convoluted.  I know
people very well on both sides of the equation and it often reminds me of
the cartoon of Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOSuhxFo76o

Labor relations is a huge money making industry.  It order for it to thrive
and for unions to thrive there must be conflict.  There must be *we v them*.
Both sides depend on it.  When I have negotiated contracts, the best process
we ever used was based on shared interest.  We started with what both sides
wanted, then moved together from there.  We ended up with no bitterness and
a well written contract that everyone could live with.  I think we spent
about $350 on attorney fees in total.

Unfortunately, it is not in the interest of labor attorneys on either side
to have people get along.  They are paid by the hour.  So, they demonize a
few labor leaders and labor leaders work very hard to demonize management.
The more conflict, the more money and resources get sucked out of operating
funds.  Once people have their feelings hurt, it is hard to recover
normalcy. There are many calculated tatics used to create hurt feelings on
both sides that result in people willing to give attorneys any amount to get
revenge.  There are some really sleazy, heartless people working both
sides.

The very worst thing for both sides who wish to create conflict and take
away resources is good management.  It is, however, the very best things for
libraries, library employees, and the communities they serve.

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com





On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 3:19 PM, Brian Gray <mindspiral at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you for making clear the points that they did not on the FB pages.
>
> I wonder how concinving the FB page is for their users. It seems to be
> written from the viewpoint of the library staff rather than in terms of the
> value to users.
>
> Thanks again for sharing this problem and sources. I will be watching how
> it
> proceeds.
>
> Brian Gray
> mindspiral at gmail.com
> bcg8 at case.edu
>
>
> On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 1:54 PM, Robert L. Balliot <
>  rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com> wrote:
>
> >  KAREN MCANINCH, who I assume had a hand in setting up the fact sheet and
> > the FB page represents the SEIU which represents the door guards and the
> > rest of the support staff.  The SEIU basically only represent those who
> they
> > are paid to represent.  The plight of the Librarians is related and to
> their
> > benefit to bring up. None of the librarians are covered under the SEIU
> > contract.  Nor do they have tenure – except, I think, the Library
> Director.
> > It is sort of an at-will academic librarian nether world.
> >
> >
> >
> > I know of three librarians within reference services that opted for early
> > retirement. It is a huge intellectual loss to the University.
> >
> >
> >
> > *************************************************
> >
> > Robert L. Balliot
> >
> > Skype: RBalliot
> >
> > Bristol, Rhode Island
> >
> > http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
> >
> > *************************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *************************************************
> >
> > Robert L. Balliot
> >
> > Skype: RBalliot
> >
> > Bristol, Rhode Island
> >
> > http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
> >
> > *************************************************
> >   ------------------------------
> >
> > *From:* Brian Gray [mailto:mindspiral at gmail.com]
> > *Sent:* Sunday, May 09, 2010 1:03 PM
> > *To:* Robert L. Balliot
> > *Cc:* Publib Publib Discussion; web4lib at webjunction.org
> > *Subject:* Re: [Web4lib] Outsourcing in the Ivy League
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone else find their information sheet describing the library
> > layoffs misleading and laid out strange?
> >
> > It speaks of 60 layoffs campus-wide but does not say how many of those
> > actually fall in the library. They also emphasis outsourcing the door
> guards
> > before ever discussing the layoffs of librarians.
> >
> > Brian Gray
> > mindspiral at gmail.com
> > bcg8 at case.edu
> >
> >  On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 10:49 AM, Robert L. Balliot <
> > rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > The fiscal problems of main street have reached the Ivy League.  At Brown
> > University Libraries, the answer is early retirements and outsourcing to
> > private contractors. Protesters of outsourcing have set up a Facebook
> Page
> > here:
> >
> > Brown University Library Matters
> > <
> >
> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown-University-Library-Matters/114305305259
> > 790>
> >
> > They have set up an on-line petition to allow others to voice their
> > disapproval here:
> >
> > Stand for Justice <http://www.gopetition.com/online/35760.html>
> >
> >
> > *************************************************
> > Robert L. Balliot
> > Skype: RBalliot
> > Bristol, Rhode Island
> > http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
> >
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