Saturday, October 27, 2001
The agency workers have resorted to pounding drums and blowing whistles.
WARREN -- Trumbull County plans to seek a court order to regulate the behavior of striking Child Support Enforcement Agency workers picketing outside administrative buildings.
James Keating, the county's head of human resources, said lawyers for the county will likely ask a judge Monday morning for the order.
The workers, on strike since Monday, have set up sidewalk shanties in recent days as shelter from the wind and rain.
Since Thursday they have been accompanying their chants with a number of musical instruments, including bass drum, concertina and whistles.
The noise is clearly audible in many administration building offices, including Keating's on the fifth floor.
"We are not blocking county business; we are not blocking the county building; we are just exercising our right to free speech," said Mark Carlson, staff representative for the 55 members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3808.
Managers doing business: Since the strike began Monday, CSEA business has been carried out by 13 managers.
"Everything they normally do, we are doing now," said Christina Campbell, director of the county agency. "I'm not saying it is all getting done immediately, but it is all getting handled the best that we can."
The strike will not affect the mailing of child support checks, which are sent directly from Columbus. Campbell said that she was not aware of any complaints from clients.
The county and union remain deadlocked since a bargaining session Thursday, representatives of both sides say.
Outstanding issues include the county's desire to eliminate paid lunch and for the employees to begin paying for a portion of their health insurance plan.
No further bargaining sessions are planned.