Chicago claims demotions will save library jobs

摘要

Chicago Public Library officials gave 30 days' notice to an unspecified number of unionized library workers July 1 that they must either accept a lower-paid position or be laid off effective August 1. Setting off a domino effect, the process began when Librarians V were informed that to avoid getting laid off they must exercise their seniority and bump Librarians IV to a lower rank. The latter were told that, if they had sufficient seniority, they too would be entitled to bump downward. The action was carried out as part of Mayor Richard Daley's June 21 order to cut personnel costs for almost every city department; the reductions are intended to save Chicago some $9 million overall out of an anticipated $115-million shortfall, city budget office spokesperson Lisa Schrader told American Libraries.