WE ARE QUEENS LIBRARY

Local 1321 Stands Against Hate

Local 1321 are deeply troubled with the continued rise of attacks against people based on their country of origin, religion, color of their skin, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, and all other categories that define who we are. As a union representing people from all walks of life, Queens Library Guild, Local 1321, DC 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO will not accept any form of hate, be it the subtle off-handed comment mentioned among friends, to the explicit physical attack against someone. Our union condemns all forms of hate and stands united to always support and uplift everyone.

 Four Library Locals’ Statement on Mayor’s Preliminary Budget

As dictated by New York City’s Charter, the Mayor issued his preliminary budget in which he cuts the libraries’ budget by $9 million. In the Spring he will issue his budget. By June 30, the City will issue a final budget. The following is a collective statement by Locals 374, 1482, 1321, and 1930 about the preliminary budget.

New York City Library Locals - Queens Library Guild Local 1321, Brooklyn Library Guild Local 1482, New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, Quasi-Public Employees (NYPL) Local 374

March 18, 2026

Preliminary Budget Hearing Fiscal Year 2027

New York City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, & International Intergroup Relations

Joint Testimony

Good afternoon Chair Dr. Williams and fellow committee members, thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our members at Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Public Libraries.

The four unions representing New York City’s public library workers are disappointed in the Mayor’s preliminary budget and his demand that our three library systems cut their budgets by 1.5% each.

For the past many years, the preliminary budget has threatened cuts to library funding, only for the cuts to be restored before the final budget is approved in June. The libraries are left with stagnant budgets and uncertainty, which prevents necessary hiring. The local unions have participated in this decades-long "budget dance," by joining the library administrations, basically, to beg for crumbs. But in good budget years, and in bad years, the libraries have not increased hiring.

Public Libraries are vital hubs of democratic participation. Mayor Mamdani understands this, because during his campaign he repeatedly affirmed twin commitments to stabilize and fund libraries, and finally to end the “budget dance.” Unfortunately, the City’s unsustainable budget shortfall has forced the Mayor to reassess this commitment.

Right now, Libraries are drastically understaffed. Branches do not have enough children's librarians to provide programs; custodians to maintain clean branches; IT workers to provide our growing IT infrastructure; clerical workers to ensure branches operate. Without more workers, we cannot keep up. 

If these library budget cuts are enacted; if Library budgets are not stabilized and increased; this will result in reduced public service hours to protect the physical and mental health of our members, who are stretched thin, burnt out, and struggling.

Library union members strongly support the Mayor’s commitments to universal childcare, rent regulation, and improved public transportation. Along with our DC 37 members, we support his call to tax millionaires and billionaires in order to pay for these important programs. We are the very New Yorkers being crushed by the city’s affordability crisis. We need an affordable city!

We urge you to find a way. Not for a one shot budget band-aid. Rather, for a new path towards a lasting, thriving, sustainable city. 

New York City needs more libraries, not fewer. But there can be no libraries without library workers.

Negotiations Update

-Staff Analysts Accretion In regards to the accreted Staff Analysts, the Administration agreed to the Staff Analysts’ proposed classifications which are more in line with what they do. The Administration is finalizing its paperwork and payroll information and the two parties will sign a memorandum of understanding to complete the process.

This resolution is a perfect lesson on how negotiations can resolve a complicated issue.  The two parties collaborated on a solution, and everyone was satisfied.

-Customer Service Redesign Local 1321’s Negotiator will be exploring options on how to proceed. Meanwhile, she requested more dates to negotiate.

-MVO Issues The Local and Administration have agreed to mediation to give the MVOs an opportunity to express their concerns to the Administration with a mediator guiding the dialog and solution. The Local’s DC 37 lawyer is coordinating a date for this mediation.

-Working Conditions Contract The Local, DC 37, and the Administration signed a letter to extend the working conditions contract for one year. Every QPL location completed their affirmation to our contract demands. The Local’s Negotiator will reach out to the Administration to request dates for negotiations.

-Buttons and Tee Shirts The Local ordered buttons and tee shirts for our contract campaign. The Local’s Executive Board will be distributing them to all the locations after we receive them. 

DC 37’s Albany Lobby Day

On March 3, 2026 more than 600 DC 37 members descended on Albany’s state legislators to lobby for DC 37 and its locals’ agenda:

• Fix Tier 6 by reducing members’ contribution rate to 3%.
• Increase taxes on millionaires and billionaires.
• And the specific library legislation affecting Local 374, 1321, 1482, 1930 members:
  • Workplace Violence Prevention in Libraries S.7993 (Ramos)/ A.6903 (Bronson)
    • Recently libraries have seen an increase in threats and harassment that threaten the stability of the library community. Currently, our union members are ill-equipped to face the increased violence.
    • DC 37 strongly supports S.7993 (Ramos)/ A.6903 (Bronson) to require every public library to establish a proactive violence prevention program, as well as training on de-escalation techniques and managing mental health crises.
    • Libraries and their staff have increasingly become targets of intimidation and harassment, including alarming incidents involving violent threats and the presence of weapons.
    • The measures outlined in this legislation are essential to ensuring the safety of library personnel and the broader community.
  • Open Shelves Act S.1100A (May)/ A.3119B (Kelles)
    • Libraries nationwide are under attack by groups attempting to censor and ban books that address topics related to people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community.
    • DC 37 strongly supports S.1100A (May)/ A.3119B (Kelles) to ensure libraries maintain a diverse and inclusive catalog that truly reflects the voices, needs, and interests of the communities they serve.
    • By safeguarding libraries as community hubs, we ensure they remain vibrant spaces for learning and discovery.
    • This legislation will promote inclusivity and equal access to knowledge, ensuring all voices are represented and heard.

The Library Locals met with the Chair of the Senate’s Library Committee Senator Siela Bynoe to discuss our state library legislation and DC 37’s agenda. Senator Bynoe was receptive and shared with us her ideas for library legislation.

Since that Lobby Day, the Assembly passed both bills. DC 37 is reaching out to Senate leaders to push these bills.

DC 37 held an impressive Fix Tier 6 rally that was well attended by many state legislators. That evening, at AFSCME’s reception, I met with Senators Joseph Addabbo, Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymembers Clair Valdez and George Alvarez and asked for their support on our library legislation, fixing Tier 6, and taxing the wealthy.

Look out for ways Local 1321 members can push our state legislators to achieve our goals.