Library staff are to vote on Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recommendations on agreed staffing levels and staffless libraries. Fórsa’s Local Government Division is recommending acceptance of the draft agreement, which heralds a review of staffing levels in each local library authority, followed by discussions on staffing requirements based on 2012 levels.

The package also commits management to a number of safeguards regarding staffless library arrangements. It would introduce a health and safety risk assessment and halt the expansion of staffless pilots pending a union-management review of the initiative, while stopping any encroachment on staffed opening hours.

Management would also be prevented from reducing staff levels below agreed plans, and from penalising local authorities who choose not to implement staffless arrangements.

The draft agreement also covers qualifications for library staff and the method of filling posts.

The following grades are being balloted: Branch librarians, library assistants, senior library assistants, non-professional grade Vs, and all other professional library staff.

Read the full draft agreement HERE.