Subject: LTAIII Meeting Cancellation Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:50:25 From: Rich Robinson To: Cindi Chibis CC: Mimi Morris
Cindi-
This is an open letter. That is to say, it is being posted on ourwebsite as well as sent to you.
I have been contacted by a group of LTA IIIs who are concerned with the way senior management has portrayed their actions. Here's the background:
(1) An LTA III suggested in e-mail "For budget concerns, what would you think about cancelling the August meeting? The Library would save mileage and parking reimbursements."
(2) Other LTA IIIs chimed in saying they thought it was a good idea and they were happy to do their part to save the library money.
(3) Mimi Morris replied in an e-mail: "OK. No meeting in August."
So far, no problem. Just union members looking out for the good of the library. But then this happened:
(4) Ms. Morris sent out the following message to the branch managers group. "The LTA IIIs were very vocal about wanting to cancel their August meeting…I am always saddened when staff members voluntarily want to abdicate their input on things, but we can regroup with them in late fall." Ms. Morris' message made the LTA III's action appear as if their intent was to step back from input - something clearly not in DML's best interest. Clearly, however, the LTA IIIs were trying to save the library's money. The wording of Ms. Morris' e-mail to branch managers cast a conscientious group of employees in a bad light to their immediate supervisors.
This sort of communication can have no positive effect on the relationship between workers and managers. In fact, some branch managers have already expressed their disappointment with their LTA IIIs for not wanting the valuable exchange of ideas in the LTA III meeting. Although it may not have been her intent, Ms. Morris' missive to the branch managers painted a wholly inaccurate picture of the LTA IIIs' intent. The LTA IIIs were described as shirking their responsibility (they wanted to "...abdicate their input...," she said) when in fact they were trying to help the library through a fiscal crisis.
If management mis-characterizes selfless acts by the employees so egregiously, then management is providing a huge disincentive for staff to try to contribute. We're trying to build bridges, not tear them down. I am deeply disappointed with management's actions, and so are many of the LTA IIIs. We look to the library to make this situation right.
Finally, I mentioned that this is an open letter. If you choose to respond in a like manner, then at your request I will gladly post your response unedited for all to see on the DMLSA website.
Thank you for your time.
-Rich Richard Robinson, President Dayton Metro Library Staff Association
Comments (7)
