MRDD Union says contract talks are taking a step backward



Talks are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday.
AUSTINTOWN -- The Mahoning Education Association of Developmental Disabilities, a union that represents the professional staff of the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, says contracts are going backward.
At a bargaining session Thursday under the direction of federal mediator Tom Connelly, the MRDD board made what the union believes is a regressive proposal, said Mary Jo Nagy, MEADD spokeswoman.
In a written statement, Nagy said that after the previous week's initial mediation session, MEADD's bargaining team was pleased that some progress was made toward reaching a settlement. However, after Thursday's meeting, she said the union is "very disappointed" in the direction the board has decided to go.
MRDD statement
Larry Duck, MRDD superintendent, said he is not permitted to discuss specifics being negotiated, but he confirmed that the problems revolve around money issues such as health insurance and wages.
"We're still at the table and willing to keep talking. But the union is not accepting the fact that revenue is flat" and there is not money for everything MEADD wants, Duck said.
"There are no secrets or tricks. It is a huge responsibility to keep the program solvent and I will not cut programs to resolve a labor contract. We're not going into deficit spending," he said.
In her statement, Nagy said the MRDD board has refused a union request for information on administrative salaries.
Duck disagreed. "We are in the process of gathering that information," he said.
The union thinks that the board's inaction on the request signals a desire to play "hard ball. We remain committed to working towards a fair and equitable settlement. But we believe we cannot adequately respond to the board's most recent proposal until we have had an opportunity to review the information on administrative salaries," Nagy said.
Contract extended
MEADD's contract with MRDD expired 12:01 Sept. 1, but the union extended it day-to-day rather than strike.
The next contract talks scheduled are at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Duck said.
The board also has been negotiating with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1143, whose contract also was to expire Sept. 1. However, that union agreed to a 30-day extension. AFSCME represents MRDD's custodians, bus drivers, bus aides, mechanics and cooks.

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