Columbus Metropolitan latest among central Ohio libraries to form union; The Columbus Dispatch, July 7, 2026

Dean Narciso , The Columbus Dispatch; Columbus Metropolitan latest among central Ohio libraries to form union

"More than 80% of Columbus Metropolitan Library's eligible staff voted to form their union — to be called CML United — now the largest of among five other local library systems in recent years to do so.

According to secret ballot election results released July 7 by Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board (SERB), 86% of valid ballots agreed to unionize. The new union includes about 600 librarians, customer service specialists, youth engagement specialists, materials services associates, drivers, sorters, and other library workers. It does not include management or security staff.

The vote count was 368-60, with roughly 428 employees casting mail-in ballots, according to The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), which began organizing the library's union in 2024. The union also represents many of central Ohio's suburban public libraries, including Worthington, Grandview Heights, Pickerington, Upper Arlington Public Library and Delaware County District Library. All six now have labor contracts."