MAHONING COUNTY MEADD files intent to strike with state employment relations board

The next bargaining session is at 2:30 p.m. Monday.
AUSTINTOWN -- The 185-member Mahoning Education Association of Developmental Disabilities intends to strike the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 if a new work agreement is not reached.
MEADD, a union affiliated with the Ohio Education and National Education associations, represents the professional staff at the Leonard Kirtz School and MRDD workshops, plus secretaries.
The next bargaining session is set for 2:30 p.m. Monday at the MRDD board office, and additional meetings have been scheduled, MRDD Superintendent Larry Duck said. The last meeting was Tuesday.
MEADD filed its intent to strike with the Ohio State Employment Relations Board. Also, a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has been assigned to facilitate negotiations, said Mary Jo Nagy, MEADD communications committee chairwoman.
Progress
Nagy said MEADD has been attempting to reach a contract settlement with the MRDD board since June, but said little progress has been made.
"Until the board makes a fair and equitable offer, there will be no settlement. We truly do not want to strike, but the superintendent and board have left us little choice," Nagy said.
Previously, Duck said there had been gradual progress made in the negotiations.
The MRDD board also is in negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union, 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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