Catherwood LibraryILR School

Library staff at Smith College unanimously voted in favor of unionization earlier this week. The staff members will be represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union. Over forty staff members voted in the union election, and every member voted in approval of union representation. Workers voted in favor of unionization because they stated that having union representation would allow them to have a greater voice in future decision-making, and allow workers to take ownership of the workplace. Unionization is becoming a growing trend in Massachusetts, and more than four hundred workers in the state have unionized since the beginning of the year. Many of these workers are employed in higher education, and Smith student employees who work in the dining halls unionized earlier this year.