Arbritrator Criticizes EPA for Library Closures; Reopening Plan Due
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 3/3/2008
- Arbitrator says EPA should consult employees
- Some agency efforts mischaracterized by critics
- Won’t restore service, but EPA must explain plans to Congress
Acting in response to grievances filed on behalf of all affected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, a federal arbitrator has found that the agency violated provisions of its collective bargaining agreement when it failed to engage the union regarding the closures and reorganization of its Library Network, owing to a new focus on electronic materials. The ruling, posted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), was issued February 15 by Federal Labor Relations Board Arbitrator George Edward Larney.
Larney’s ruling did offer some support to the EPA, suggesting that critics like PEER and library leaders had misread the situation. While four library associations, including the American Library Association, had lamented that the EPA had ignored three of its own reports in planning for reorganization, Larney called that contention mistaken.
He said evidence showed that the EPA had acted in recognition of declining budgets and developments in technology that offered an opportunity to stress online documents. While the agency did not act precipitously, and indeed “proceeded with a good degree of caution and with a great deal of thought” regarding changes, the plan “was insular in nature to the extreme,” given that managers sought “virtually no input” from other constituencies, including general public users and staff unions.
The union had initially sought to have the arbitrator act to reopen or restore hours at about a dozen of 28 libraries in the network. Larney called such remedies unrealistic, given budgetary constraints. However, Congress has already ordered the EPA to restore library services; PEER said that EPA is supposed to report to Congress late this month as to its implementation plans.
Larney did order EPA to bargain with affected public employee unions should reorganization plans potentially have “an adverse impact on the working conditions of bargaining unit employees."
