Res. No. 252
Resolution calling upon New York City's public library systems and not-for-profit organizations that receive city funding to have a workforce representative on the respective Boards of Trustees and Board of Directors.
By Council Members Crowley, Gentile, Rose and Rodriguez
Whereas, Library services in the City are provided through three independent systems:
the Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, which serves the boroughs of Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx, and the Queens Borough Public Library; and
Whereas, The library systems are not-for-profit corporations that provide a public service though their operations and programs are substantially funded by the City; and
Whereas, Although City officials are included among the ex-officio members of each library board, each library is governed by its own board of trustees and is not subject to the jurisdiction of any city agency; and
Whereas, While many not-for-profit corporations receive city funding, State law dictates that such corporations shall be managed by its board of directors; and
Whereas, The addition of a workforce representative on each of the separate and respective boards would help ensure just compensation for certain services rendered to the libraries or not-for-profit corporations; and
Whereas, In cases where the workforce is unionized, such representative can be the president of the union or some other union representative; and
Whereas, In workplaces where the employer recognizes trade unions and trade unions are recognized for collective bargaining purposes the workforce representative could be a point of contact between board and union; and
Whereas, A workforce representative could take measures to promote workforce development and other workforce initiatives, including best practices and emerging approaches in workforce development; and
Whereas, Ideally, the workforce representative would have expertise with labor issues that may not otherwise be present on a board of trustees or board of directors; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon New York City's public library systems and not-for-profit organizations that receive city funding to have a workforce representative on the respective Boards of Trustees and Board of Directors.
TM
LS # 656
5/13/14