A state-mandated mediator will hear both sides of the Lorain County Commissioners and job and family services workers dispute and decide whether to force commissioners back to negotiations.
The JFS staff, represented by United Auto Worker Local 2192, started striking February 18 looking for increased wages 鈥渢o bring workers closer to the pay levels of comparable Ohio counties,鈥� according to the union. The previous contract ended in September.
Gina Jones, a JFS case worker and chairperson for the union, said the county has not negotiated since the strike started, despite multiple requests from the labor union to meet.
鈥淭hey need these commissioners to wake up and do what's best for the community here," Jones said. "They need to come back to the table, give a fair contract. That way the county, the residents, the clients that we serve, they're not going to have any failures in their services."
Several members of the union spoke during the public comment section of Tuesday鈥檚 county commissioners meeting to demand higher wages, as they have been doing regularly since striking.
鈥淐lients go in, they ask a question, whoever's working the front desks says, 'I can't give you the answer, I don't know,' whatever," Jones said. "So, they tell them to go out and ask the people out on the picket line because they'll be able to help you. So, they do. They come out and they ask us."
JFS handles additional support services such as Medicaid and SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Jones said some employees are paid low enough wages by the county that they qualify for some of the services JFS provides.
鈥淭hey have their priorities backwards," Jones said. "They're not serving the community. They're not serving the taxpayers. They are not serving the clients. They aren't serving the needy, the less fortunate, the disabled, the elderly, the children. I mean it goes on and on and they're not providing services to them. It seems like they're lining the pockets of their friends.鈥�
The county declined comment, but Commissioner Jeff Riddell said in an email: 鈥淲e should limit the noise and let the process work.鈥�
The Ohio State Employment Relations Board will oversee the mediation, and a decision could take weeks.
