YOUNGSTOWN Police union, city differ over seniority issue

By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City patrol officers want to fill 10 afternoon and 10 night shifts by seniority, but the law department wants a minimum of four years on the job for each position, the union president says.
Patrolman Barry Ervin, president of the Youngstown Police Association, said the impasse resulted in the union's filing an unfair-labor practice with the State Employment Relations Board. The union's position, Ervin said, is backed up by a fact finder's report recommending that the 20 shifts be filled by seniority.
A SERB hearing took place in Columbus and a ruling is expected by June 29, he said.
Ervin said the YPA, in a 76-27 vote, and city council, in a unanimous vote, agreed in February to accept the fact finder's report. The union has about 150 members.
John McNally, an assistant city law director, could not be reached.
The city and union met a month ago and had the contract language in place except the steady hours issue, Ervin said today. McNally, he said, wants the union to accept the provision that anyone bidding on the afternoon and night shifts have at least four years' seniority.
Concern: The city's concern is that all young officers would end up on the two shifts, Ervin said. That wouldn't happen because there are a lot of veterans who want to work those turns, he said.
The YPA contract expired Nov. 30, 2000. Some portions of the new three-year agreement reached in February have been implemented but not the 30-cents-per-hour equity raise or the 4-percent pay raise for each of the years, Ervin said.