Labor dispute continues over layoff of workers
Jobs have been abolished, but some CSEA workers have been moved to other agencies.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Unrest continues within the Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency, where workers are embroiled in a labor dispute with the county.
Officials of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3577 say county commissioners did not follow through on their plans to lay off 16 agency employees, which makes them wonder about the agency's financial status.
But county officials say the 16 jobs were abolished as announced, though that does not mean all of the affected employees no longer have jobs. Some have been absorbed into vacancies in other county departments, said Commissioner Ed Reese.
"We have time invested in these people," Reese said. "They already know our system and we are going to try to find places for them as vacancies occur."
How it started: Commissioners and Local 3577 have been at loggerheads over a wage dispute. Union workers received a 3 percent raise in each of the first two years of their three-year contract, which expires this year.
By mutual agreement, the sides reopened negotiations for 2001 wages late last year. The union asked for a 5 percent raise and a $1,000 signing bonus, but the county has said the agency is in a $1.3 million deficit so cannot afford to give raises.
Commissioners said the layoffs, which took place in March, were to help make up part of that deficit.
But Marcel Trevathan, Local 3577 president, said some of those who were to be laid off are still working.
"We're baffled," Trevathan said. "It's comes back to the same old question, do they have money or don't they?"
J. Kevin Sellards, human resources director, said all of the jobs that were supposed to be abolished have been abolished. Once that was done, union members had the right to bump people with less seniority out of their jobs and stay within the agency, he said.
Moved into other positions: When the dust had cleared, some of those who were displaced were moved to vacancies in other county departments like Job and Family Services and the Children Services Board.
He said six employees are on layoff and nine have been placed in other departments. One other employee is being evaluated for placement but no decision has been made, Sellards said.
"We've done everything we said we would do," he said.
Because of the inability to agree on wages, the union went on strike April 9. The strike lasted only one day, though, because commissioners received a temporary restraining order from Judge Maureen A. Cronin of common pleas court, who said the union appeared to have violated a no-strike clause in the union's contract and ordered workers back to their jobs.
The union has filed a request to dissolve the restraining order and allow the strike to continue. A hearing will be Monday to determine whether the restraining order is dissolved or made permanent.