MAHONING COUNTY MRDD, union are still talking

More meetings are scheduled.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities does not think that contract talks with the Mahoning Education Association of Developmental Disabilities have broken down, Superintendent Larry Duck said.
The last meeting was last Tuesday. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, and additional meetings have been scheduled, Duck said.
MEADD, one of the unions representing board employees, issued a press release Monday saying talks had broken down.
Meetings continue
Mary Jo Nagy, MEADD communications committee chairwoman, acknowledged Monday that the two parties are continuing to meet.
She said, however, that progress to date on major items was so negligible that the MEADD requested a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to help with negotiations.
Nagy said a mediator had been assigned.
Duck said the board is aware that MEADD had expressed an interest in bringing in a mediator, but there had been no mutual agreement to do so.
"The board recognizes MEADD's right to request mediation, but believes there has been gradual progress on the issues being negotiated," Duck said.
Duck said the board declined to comment further on the details of the negotiations while talks are in progress.
Nagy would not discuss specifics of the negotiations, but said MEADD believes the board's negotiators have been unreasonable in their demands.
MEADD wants to reach an agreement before the contract expires Aug. 31, Nagy said.
MEADD members want a fair contract that recognizes their dedicated work with MRDD's special consumers and pupils, she added.
About the union
MEADD has about 185 members, and represents the professional staff at the Leonard Kirtz School and MRDD workshops, plus secretaries.
The MRDD board also is in negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1143, which represents about 85 custodians, bus drivers, bus aides, mechanics and cooks. The AFSCME contract also expires Aug. 31.
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