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Cleveland Public Library workers reach tentative deal, delay strike

SEIU 1199 and Cleveland Public Library reached a last-minute tentative agreement hours before a noon walkout. Members vote Aug. 26; a strike is delayed until Aug. 27 if they reject it.

Cleveland Public Library and SEIU District 1199 reached a tentative contract Aug. 24, hours before a noon strike. About 400 workers vote Aug. 26; the library board votes Aug. 27. Terms of the new deal were not released. The union had rejected an offer the library said included 5% in year one and 11% over the contract, citing a 0% third-year raise, health-care costs, and pay the union called below a living wage.

Shared facts

The union representing 400 workers had planned to strike Aug. 24 at noon.

The union and CPL returned to the bargaining table.

The proposal included a 5% first-year raise and 11% over the contract.

If members reject it, the strike will be back on.

On Friday, members rejected the library's last pre-deadline offer.

Workers had been negotiating with the library for nearly a year.

Union members will vote on an updated proposal Aug. 26.

The sides had not agreed on pay increases.

The union represents about 400 library workers.

The library board will vote on the tentative deal Aug. 27.

In July the union signaled it would strike if there was no deal by noon Aug. 24.

It is not clear whether those union proposals were dropped from the new contract.

The email said worker support included $5.5 million in wage increases.

It included four weeks of paid parental leave at full pay, a new benefit.

Members said many employees do not make living wages and pay has lagged inflation.

The union said the library offered a 0% raise in year three.

An unauthorized employee said the main building and other branches would try to stay open in some capacity.

The library said it has long been a leader in pay among Ohio public libraries.

It offered five weeks of vacation at 10 years of service instead of 25.

The 25 neighborhood campuses would offer limited access 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

A library email said the state cut its funding by $2.24 million in the last budget cycle.

If a strike occurred, CPL intended to stay open with limited services and hours.

An employee said staff had worked under an expired contract for seven months.

Newer employees would get 12 paid vacation days, up from 10.

Bereavement leave would rise from three to five days for immediate family.

She said they were ready to walk out if there was no agreement.

The library said it remained ready to bargain and believed an agreement was achievable.

The library said its main concern was disruption as CMSD's school year began.

They would be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Patrons could pick up holds and use printing and copying.

Only Main Library's first floor downtown would be open to the public.

The library said it would run curbside the rest of Monday and resume normal operations Tuesday.

Many online library resources would remain available.

The first floor and lower level of the Louis Stokes Wing would also be open.

Visitors could get Wi-Fi from branch parking lots.

Disputed facts

They had not agreed on how much employees should pay toward health care.

The sides had held more than 40 negotiation sessions.

Shared opinions

The library said its proposal advances both worker support and public services.

Thomas said the library is proud the deal lets it keep providing five-star service.

The library said it was disappointed talks had reached this point.

Cleveland 19 News

Cleveland Public Library workers avoid strike, reach 'tentative' agreement

Noelle Williams and Julia Thyret

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Wood said the library is paying people $17 an hour.

MIT's calculator puts a livable wage for a single Cuyahoga County adult just over $20 an hour.

The library said average annual pay for 358 full-time employees is $51,287.

Officials said that average spans roles from custodial staff to IT professionals.

Opinion

Dalesandro said the changes are meaningful compared with the prior offer members voted on.

Fox News

Cleveland Public Library, union workers reach tentative agreement

24 Aug 2026

Facts

The union said Director Felton Thomas makes over $300,000, more than Cleveland's mayor and Ohio's governor.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Ideastream Public Media

Cleveland Public Library workers avoid strike after last-minute negotiations

Gabriel Kramer

24 Aug 2026

Facts

About a dozen people came to the main library Monday to support workers, then learned the strike was called off.

Workers were seeking a three-year contract with a raise.

Cleveland DSA had planned to support the strike outside the library all day, then adjusted.

Councilmember Tanmay Shah showed up to support the workers, then left earlier than expected.

The union had sought job-based raises rather than an across-the-board increase.

The library said the proposal also boosted parental leave, bereavement leave and vacation.

The union also wanted minimum daily staffing quotas and future AI guidelines.

Opinion

Thomas said employees are at the heart of The People's University and he is grateful for their work.

A Cleveland DSA representative said a good contract would be a win, depending on Wednesday's vote.

Shah said he is still apprehensive about the deal and wants to see the details.

Cleveland Public Library

A Message from Cleveland Public Library

21 Aug 2026

Facts

It said raises averaged 6% in 2022, 2% in 2023 and 2024, and 3.5% in 2025.

The library said it paid annual bonuses in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The library listed investments since the last contract talks in 2019.

It created seven new bargaining-unit job classifications.

The library said it had no layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It said it offered tuition reimbursement.

The library said it still offers those benefits as Ohio libraries face financial pressure.

It said it upgraded pay for all trade classifications.

The library said it would restore regular operations as soon as circumstances allow.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

Cleveland Scene

Cleveland Public Library Employees Set Strike Date of August 24 as Negotiations Continue

Mark Oprea

10 Aug 2026

Facts

Seven bargaining meetings had happened since the July 14 strike-authorization vote.

Spokesperson Andrianna Sheriff said it is hard to say how many would actually strike.

Sheriff said the library could not discuss specific proposals while talks continued.

An SEIU representative was not available for comment.

Opinion

An employee said they did not know if all 27 branches could stay open.

Another employee called Aug. 24 a worst-case scenario.

The employee said people are getting angry.

They hoped administration and the union would reach a fair deal before a strike.

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Public Library workers are set to strike after rejecting contract offer

Mary Frances McGowan

24 Aug 2026

Facts

Union members intended to picket at all library locations.

Other sites such as the ArtBox, Edgewater Book Box, City Hall PAL and West Side Market Book Nook would close.

Opinion

Former board member Lisa Malone said members cannot afford food, rent, car repairs or family needs.

The union said that with rising costs and no matching raises, the library was asking workers to take a pay cut.

The paper said Clevelanders would have to decide whether to cross a picket line.

Signal Cleveland

Cleveland Public Library union employees delay strike

Olivera Perkins

24 Aug 2026

Facts

They had not agreed on workplace drug-testing policies.

Opinion

The union found that offer unacceptable.

Dalesandro said nobody wants to strike.

Dalesandro said members love what they do.

The reporter said that sentiment has not changed.