Eligible employees for collective bargaining include all staff except supervisory, confidential, managerial and employees who work fewer than 60 hours in a rolling quarter

Rogue Valley Times staff report

A majority of Jackson County Library District employees have signed authorization cards to unionize, launching a process toward collective bargaining.

Library district officials, in a release on Wednesday, reported that by Dec. 1, a majority of workers had signed the cards designating SEIU Local 503, OPEU as their representative.

Eligible employees include all staff except supervisory, confidential, managerial and employees who work fewer than 60 hours in a rolling quarter.

The signing of authorization cards marks the beginning of the unionization process that will continue until a collective bargaining agreement is reached between the library district and union representatives, the release said.

Library district officials said a timeline for completion of the process had not yet been determined. District officials said JCLD Director Kari May is “committed to supporting staff throughout the process.”

“Jackson County Library District is committed to working collaboratively with SEIU Local 503 throughout the collective bargaining process,” May said in a written statement.

“Our shared goal is to reach an agreement that supports our employees and ensures we continue providing exceptional library services to the community.”

SEIU representatives were not immediately available to comment on the library district process on Wednesday.

JCLD serves the 220,000 residents of Jackson County with 15 branches, according to its website, including the Ashland Public Library.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.