LIBERTY Union files complaint for clerks

The administrator said he would never miss a meeting.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Teamsters Local 377 has filed a complaint with the State Employment Relations Board contending the township has refused to negotiate a contract.
The unfair-labor-practice charge was filed by Youngstown attorney Timothy R. Piatt.
Local 377 was certified Dec. 12, 2002, by SERB as the exclusive representative of part-time township clerical employees, who have yet to hold a bargaining session.
Atty. John Barkan of Mentor, who represents the township, said the issue is a misunderstanding.
At the same time, Barkan and township administrator Patrick J. Ungaro argue the number of employees in the union remains a question.
They said Local 377 contends there are four part-time clerical employees, but the township says there are three.
They said there is another "casual" payroll clerk who doesn't have a set work schedule.
The question is: Does the payroll clerk qualify as a clerical employee?
According to Local 377's complaint, Ungaro has refused to bargain with the union.
On June 12, Ungaro met with the union, and the union served notice that negotiations for an initial contract were to begin immediately.
The complaint says the two sides met June 27, when the union presented its initial offer. Ungaro reportedly told the union there would be no bargaining at all and that he didn't have the authority to negotiate.
What Ungaro said
On July 14, the complaint says, Ungaro failed to show up for a bargaining session.
"It's unfortunate the way it happened. I would never not show up for a meeting," Ungaro said.
The administrator explained that he told a union representative that he would meet with "them" July 14. Ungaro said he meant that he was meeting with township trustees, not union negotiators.
"It's a total misunderstanding," he said.
Barkan said there is no authority to formally bargain. He said Ungaro was under the impression the meetings he did have with the union were informal sessions.
"It's just that we started on the wrong foot," Barkan asserted.
yovich@vindy.com