The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor
City of Atlanta
55 Trinity Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303
Dear Mayor Franklin:
We are a group of ten veteran employees who each have over twenty years of
experience with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. As City of Atlanta residents,
we are fed up over the harsh abuse and severe harassment of staff from library
director Mary Kaye Hooker.
As the mayor, since you have two members on the Library's Board of Trustees to
represent the interests of Atlanta city residents, we request that your representatives
urge the library board to immediately launch an investigation into the horrendous staff
abuse by Mrs. Hooker. As employees, we have dutifully followed Fulton County
Personnel Procedures to report and document Mrs. Hooker's terrifying abuse and
harassment. We have filed complaints with the Fulton County Equal Employment
Opportunity (EEO) Office; filed grievances with the Fulton County Personnel Board,
and sent letters of complaint to the county administrators, Fulton County
Commissioners and the library Board of Trustees. Still, the abuse that we experience
from the library director has only worsened over the last few months. Now, many
employees are frightened to come to work. A number of people are desperately
seeking other jobs and some staff have created a web site to complain about her
abuse (www.afplwatch.com).
We have documented her contempt and discrimination of male employees. But
nothing changes. We have been the victims of terrifying verbal abuse, vicious
harassment, physical threats, coercion and unethical lies about our performance. She
has destroyed the careers and reputations of many valued colleagues, and brags in
meetings that if she loses her job, she will take other people down with her. Many
library employees have been forced to seek extensive psychiatric help because of her,
and we have several people out on medical leave due to harassment and intimidation
from Mrs. Hooker.
In over twenty years of employment with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System,
Mrs. Hooker has created the most hostile work environment that we have ever
experienced. The library director's abuse has had a direct effect on the quality of our
service to the residents of Atlanta and Fulton County. It is disgusting to watch the
library director take pleasure in stripping hardworking public servants of their dignity
and humanity. Enough is Enough!
So far, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Board of Trustees has failed to act on our
numerous complaints, nor has the county conducted the investigation that we
repeatedly requested. We need help now! Therefore, we request that your
representatives on the library board launch an investigation and bring resolution to
the horrible treatment of staff at the library. Unfortunately, we question the
effectiveness of the county EEO office since Mrs. Hooker retaliates against anyone
who files an EEO complaint. It has become impossible for the library to move forward
and effectively serve your constituents under her leadership because she lacks the
support, trust and respect of staff.
Our situation is so critical that we have retained legal counsel. A copy of this
document is being forwarded to our attorney. Enclosed is a news article from the
Atlanta Journal Constitution that shows Mrs. Hooker has a history of severe staff abuse.
Thank you for considering our plight.
Sincerely,
Veteran Library Employees Coalition
cc:
Commissioner Robb Pitts
Commissioner Emma Darnell
Commissioner Bob Fulton
Atlanta Fulton Public Library Board of Trustees
Bob Brandes, Fulton County Personnel Director
Atlanta City Council
June Green, Fulton County Attorney
Cynthia Tucker, Atlanta Journal Constitution
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