Library staff walk out on Gonzales

Joeten Kiyu Public Library employees turned their backs on what they allege is a “climate of fear” under executive director John Gonzales yesterday morning—walking out on him and effectively forcing the library to close until after 2pm yesterday.

They demanded his resignation and a formal investigation into his ethics, behavior, and finances as executive director.

Saipan Tribune tried but failed to reach Gonzales as of press time. He had declined comment to local media in the morning, citing personnel regulations.

Staff came together in the library’s parking lot in protest, after walking out of the library a little before 10am.

Around 11pm, CNMI Library Council members Soledad Tenorio and council member Rufin B. Inos arrived to inquire into what was happening. Council member Frank Villagomez later joined them. They then proceeded inside the library to speak with Gonzales.

After 12pm, Villagomez stepped out of the library and, on behalf of the board, asked to meet with the staff. The staff made clear that they did not want to go back inside with Gonzales still there; they were accommodated.

Council chair Mark Rabauliman showed up later with Office of Personnel Management’s Andrew Orsini. The library reopened after 2:30pm, after the board and staff agreed that they would continue to work and meet again on Monday at 9:30am.

Staff said the walkout was not planned but was triggered after a shouting match between an employee and Gonzales during an informal staff meeting in the morning.

Tension had been building, the staff said, between them and the director over the years.

The staff claimed that Gonzales had read a copy of the JKPL’s transition report to the governor, where they confidentially had aired their grievances against him in oral testimony to the transition team who led the report.

“He told us he has a copy,” an employee said. “Now he is retaliating.”

“Tensions have been building over the months here at the [JKPL],” Technical Services librarian Rosalyn Ajoste said. “Staff are unhappy with the leadership of the director. They feel that there is a climate of fear, a toxic environment, fear of retaliation if we were to speak up and say anything—things kind of came to a head this morning…Tensions escalated into a shouting match between him and one of our employees and it was just too much to take.”

Ray Deleon Guerrero, who has been with the library for seven years, said the meeting yesterday morning was unexpected. “It did not go well,” he said.

Ajoste added that they “we’re all in this together” and that Gonzales had “brought it upon himself.”

She said staff has been coming to her for months with their concerns but it seems that the director “doesn’t really listen to staff.”

Erlinda Naputi, who has been at the library for 23 years, and Celina Foreman, who has been there for nine years, were also part of the protesters, save for one who remained inside.

Staff alleged that a constant under Gonzales leadership was reprimand letters, final warnings for insubordination, his “hand in their face,” his “slamming tables,” and “lavish trips” routed by his secretary.

Naputi claimed that there has been “no financial reports during staff meetings.”

Naputi was the staff that had spoken heatedly with Gonzales that morning. She told Saipan Tribune it stemmed from Gonzales saying that her paid leave for Pacific Islands Association of Libraries last November would not be recognized.

Naputi claimed that both she and Gonzales filed for leave on the same day on Nov. 7.

When told this, Gonzales then said her travel authority had not been routed, adding that “it was your job” to do so, according to Naputi.

Naputi claimed that Gonzales had his TA routed by his secretary that paid for ticket, food, car rental, and room, and was also routed to Japan and Malaysia.

Staff said Gonzales had told them that “whoever makes fundraising can go” to the conference.

Naputi said she had raised personal funds, filed leave on the same day as Gonzales did, but yet was told her leave would not be recognized.

Both Deleon Guerrero and Naputi said that Gonzales goes to off-island training but never shares information or present it to staff, yet requires them to do so.

Staff also questioned his personnel decision regarding ex-employee Victoria Cabrera who they felt was pressured to resign because Gonzales would not accommodate her maternity leave.

Saipan Tribune spoke to Cabrera, who was at home taking care of her newborn after giving birth on Jan. 29. She said she resigned “because they could not accommodate six weeks [of maternity leave] on doctors orders.”

The six weeks would have ended March 9, she said, but she was given until Feb. 7.

She said Gonzales could not accommodate her and told her immediate supervisor, Ray Deleon Guerrero, to write termination letter because “Gonzales didn’t want to do it.”

“I’m shocked but I’m not surprised because I know what’s been going,” she said when asked to comment on the protest.

Staff said they would like a “formal investigation” into Gonzales’ use of petty cash, education tax credit funding, and purchase orders, among others.

In a phone interview after the library reopened, Ajoste said the staff maintain their position and prefer that Gonzales resign, but the board had urged the staff to find a resolution to the issue in “the most peaceful way possible.”

The board and staff “all agreed” to meet again on Monday, she said.

She said she understands due process but “it took today to bring this issue to light.”

According to her, the board said they needed to clarify and “find out their roles and how they can approach” the issue, and emphasized that they “need to be very careful” and “not do anything hasty.”

It is unclear as of now whether the board acts only in an advisory capacity, and if rules and regulations leave it up to Gov. Eloy S. Inos to decide on the matter.

According to acting press secretary Ivan Blanco, the governor is aware of the situation and is waiting to receive more information from the JKPL board.