TESTIMONY
Leonard Paul, President of Local 374, on the Devastating Impact of Budget Cuts on New York City's Public Library Systems and Workers
3:45:14
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119 sec
Leonard Paul, President of Local 374, testifies about the detrimental effects of budget cuts on the New York City public library systems and their workers.
- He highlights the invaluable role libraries play in communities by providing free resources, services, and programs in a safe environment staffed by dedicated union members.
- Paul states that since the pandemic, 234 full-time union positions have been lost across various library roles, leading to strained services and reduced operating hours.
- He criticizes the mayor's budget decisions that have forced library closures and will cut services to 5 days per week due to insufficient staffing.
- Paul emphasizes the lack of resources for children's programs, building maintenance, and public safety officers, all impacting the libraries' ability to serve patrons effectively.
Leonard Paul
3:45:14
Good afternoon, council member, Brandon and fellow committee members.
3:45:18
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come before you today to testify on behalf of all our fellow union workers of Brooklyn queens and the New York Public Libraries.
3:45:29
We are united in our appeal to you, our elected officials to help us save our libraries.
3:45:35
Everyone in this city knows how valuable their libraries are to their communities.
3:45:39
All the materials, services, programs, computers, and Wi Fi, are provided in clean and safe library buildings, manned by dedicated and loyal, hardworking union members.
3:45:50
Your constituents know that their libraries are free, open, and accepting of everyone 6 days a week.
3:45:57
Our members have been feeling the strain because the mayor never allowed the libraries to recover the staff we have lost since the pandemic.
3:46:04
Since February of 2020, we have lost 234 full time union positions, including librarians, clerks, custodians, drivers, IT workers, catalog staff, maintainers, etcetera.
3:46:17
To do the same amount of work over the same number of days as we did in 2020.
3:46:22
Now, the mayor has forced our libraries to not open branches.
3:46:26
Next year, the library system will cut services to 5 days per week because we do not have enough members to provide a basic level of services.
3:46:35
We do not have children's life parents to provide the programs every neighborhood child needs.
3:46:40
We do not have enough intelligence to keyboard branches as clean as their ought to be, and we do not have enough public safety officers to ensure our patrons can enjoy our branches in peace safety and comfort.
3:46:54
The mayor of Budget is a travesty to our libraries, to our libraries.
3:47:00
You will hear from my fellow presidents and who will now provide you with first time testimonies from our members from all across the library services.
3:47:07
Describing how much of a negative impact the cuts are having on us all.
3:47:12
Thank you.
