On Wednesday, March 18, UAW Local 2192 members at Lorain County Job and Family Services marked one month on strike. The strike was provoked by the Lorain County Commissioners’ refusal to negotiate in good faith after rejecting a neutral fact-finder’s report, which has put critical public services at risk.
Workers will meet with County Commissioners on Wednesday, March 25 for the first time since going on strike, in a state-mandated mediation regarding unfair labor practice charges filed by UAW Local 2192 members after County Commissioners illegally refused to bargain.
“We are entering March 25’s mediation with one goal: to get back to the table for the residents that rely on our vital services,” said Gina Jones, UAW Local 2192 Chairperson and case worker at Lorain County JFS. “This is an opportunity for the County Commission to settle this crisis. JFS workers want to be back at work serving the people of Lorain County, but they can’t do that if they can’t even afford to feed their own families. All we’re asking for is a one dollar per hour raise.”
Since February 18, 140 workers – who manage elder abuse investigations, home daycare inspections, and SNAP and Medicaid support – have held picket lines outside the JFS building every day, with additional picket lines added outside the County Administration Building. Throughout the strike, Commissioners have refused to return to the negotiating table, as workers continue to mobilize and speak out at County Commissioner Board meetings.
On February 24, JFS workers filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the County for refusing to bargain in good faith. Ohio law requires both parties to meet and work through their differences in good faith to keep public services up and running, a goal the Union has strived for from the beginning despite the County’s continuous pushback.
The workers’ remaining demand is a one dollar per hour wage adjustment to bring workers closer to the pay levels of comparable Ohio counties. JFS operations are primarily funded through state and federal pass-through dollars, meaning the proposed one-dollar adjustment would cost the County’s General Fund nothing.
Given the nature of the crucial public services JFS workers perform, the County’s illegal refusal to bargain and misplaced priorities have created not just a workforce crisis but have pushed Lorain County to the brink of a public service crisis. While average wages for Lorain JFS workers trail nearly all Ohio counties, County Commissioners increased worker healthcare costs by 50% – leading to a crisis where 90 out of 140 positions at JFS have seen employee turnover in just the past five years.
These issues come alongside the County’s clumsy decision-making nearly led to the repossession of police vehicles, and to the County Auditor claiming retaliation from the Commissioners after he refused illegal requests, among other blunders. County Commissioners are also up against universal opposition from local organizations, community members, and even newspaper editorial boards as they force an unpopular “megasite” development forward.
Meanwhile, as County Commissioners deny JFS workers a fair contract that addresses staffing shortages, recruitment, and excessively high turnover challenges – they have no issue with increasing six-figure management positions by 142% in the same period (growing from 65 to 157 positions making over $100,000).
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