MAHONING COUNTY Fact finder backs officials in dispute over wages

Forcing the county to grant pay raises would result in more people being laid off, the report says.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- After having their honesty and credibility questioned in a labor dispute at the county child-support enforcement agency, Mahoning County commissioners got some support Tuesday in a fact finder's report.
"It's nice to be reinforced," said J. Kevin Sellards, human resources director.
Commissioners have come under fire from labor unions within the child-support agency after it was announced that 16 agency employees are to be laid off at the end of this week.
Their jobs are being abolished to help make up a $1.3 million budget deficit commissioners say exists at the agency.
Accusations: During an informational picket Tuesday outside agency offices on Commerce Street, the county was accused of creating the shortfall to avoid renegotiating wages with workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3577.
During a hearing last week in common pleas court, an attorney for Teamsters Local 377, which also represents agency workers, also questioned whether the deficit exists. The Teamsters sued unsuccessfully to halt the layoffs until it can pursue a formal grievance.
But a report issued Monday by fact finder James E. Rimmel said commissioners have proved that the agency's budget will come up $1.3 million short in each of the next three years without budget cuts.
"To recommend a wage adjustment in this environment would simply represent an act of malfeasance and, even if adopted, would, in all likelihood, result in additional layoffs to support that increase," the report says.
Union request: The report is the result of a request by the union to reopen wage negotiations, asking for a 5 percent increase with a $1,000 signing bonus.
The county refused, saying there is no money to pay for such an increase. When the matter could not be resolved, it was sent to the fact finder.
Sellards said the report supports what commissioners and Dee Crawford, executive director of Job and Family Services, have said all along. The child-support agency is under the auspices of JFS.
"You have an independent person looking objectively at the situation and saying there is no money," he said.
Marcel Trevathan, Local 3577 president, could not be reached to comment.
Rimmel's report said the union also alleged at the fact-finding hearing that the agency is mismanaged, has payroll administration problems and does not ensure a balanced workload for employees.
He said some of those issues appear to be valid, but he did not address them in the report because the wage increase was the only issue before him.
Another look: He said the wage issue should be addressed again after the agency's next fiscal year begins July 1 because officials should have a better idea then whether the state will provide more funding in poundage reimbursements that could help pay for raises.
Poundage is a monthly fee in addition to child support that is paid by the noncustodial parent to the county handling the account.