A labor strike for jobs and family services employees in Lorain County started Wednesday morning.
The county鈥檚 current offer to the workers鈥� union 鈥� United Auto Works Local 2192 鈥� includes annual wage increases totaling 12% over the next three years, plus an opportunity for incentive pay. Union representatives said they鈥檙e also looking for wage increases to current salaries and backpay dating from September, when the previous contract ended.
Both sides said they were at an impasse Tuesday afternoon. The strike started Wednesday at 6:30 a.m.
鈥淚t's shameful that we have to take this resort. Our members would prefer to service their clients because they really care about the work they do,鈥� said David Green, UAW Region 2B director. 鈥淲e're not asking for a whole lot here. None of these workers are going to be rich by any means. They're just trying to survive.鈥�
Union representatives said some employees are reliant on food pantries and are even eligible for some of the services JFS supplies to low-income families, such as Medicaid or supplemental grocery assistance.
鈥淭hey make so little money,鈥� said Gina Jones, a Lorain County case worker and chairperson for the union鈥檚 negotiation team. 鈥淲e have workers that are receiving those benefits. We have workers who can't afford to put their children on our health insurance.鈥�
Jones also said the union is frustrated with 鈥渕ismanaged money鈥� in the county.
鈥淭his administration, they've created over a hundred jobs in the past three years that pay over $100,000 a year in salaries,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭he frontline workers that work at JFS, they're not seeing any of that.鈥�
The county stands firm on its offer.
鈥淭he last and best offer has been presented,鈥� said Chris Cabot, director for Lorain County JFS. 鈥淎 compensation package over the next three years that is well above the statewide average has been offered to the union and their staff.鈥�
Cabot said the county is prepared to handle JFS services despite striking employees.
鈥淚t's my job to ensure that we provide the best service possible to our children and the families in need, and that's exactly what we intend to do regardless of how many staff members show up for work,鈥� Cabot said. 鈥淚'm going to roll my sleeves up and do whatever is needed to make sure that we provide the best possible service to the families.鈥�
Earlier this month, Lorain County Commissioners that said the union鈥檚 demands were 鈥渦nrealistic.鈥�
UAW representatives said the county is losing JFS workers for similar jobs in surrounding counties.
鈥淯AW is standing up for strong public services that Lorain County residents depend on,鈥� UAW President Shawn Fain said. 鈥淎n agency that can鈥檛 keep staff because they can鈥檛 afford to eat lunch or have their children on their health care plan 鈥� that鈥檚 an agency in crisis.鈥�
