2 labor charges rejected

The ACE union president said the case isn't over and may end in arbitration.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The State Employment Relations Board has dismissed a pair of unfair labor practice charges filed against Youngstown State University by its Association of Classified Employees union and the union president.
Both Christine Domhoff, ACE president, and the union filed unfair labor practice charges against the university in June over termination of her computer networking position with the YSU Metro College.
The charges claim that the elimination of the full-time Metro College position was in retaliation for her "long-standing and zealous exercise of protected activities," namely her work as president of the 400-member ACE union.
In announcing its decision, SERB said that information gathered during its investigation showed that the job held by Christine Domhoff, the union president, was eliminated for reasons other than her exercising her guaranteed rights to conduct union activities.
She still works part time for YSU, teaching one political science class each semester. Her Metro College employment was terminated July 1, just as ACE and the university were to begin negotiations on a new contract. Domhoff, as union president, was chief negotiator in those talks.
The filings said the termination was both unlawful and designed to "chill and prejudice" both her and the union to put them at a disadvantage in negotiations.
SERB dismissed both charges earlier this month, saying its investigation didn't support the charges.
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Domhoff questioned the extent of that investigation. There were never any hearings held, she said.
"They didn't investigate. They never contacted me," she said, adding that the dismissals may be appealed.
She also noted that similar charges were filed with another government regulatory agency, and the job termination issue is the focus of an upcoming contract arbitration hearing in January.
The university, in a prepared statement, said it is pleased with the SERB rulings. It denied that the job elimination was based on Domhoff's role as ACE president.
"The university's decision to eliminate Ms. Domhoff's position was based on the fact that the program she oversaw at Metro College no longer had sufficient enrollment to support the program. To continue funding the position would have been financially irresponsible," the statement said.
The university also pointed out that these are the latest in a series of six SERB rulings in favor of YSU regarding unfair labor practice charges filed by Domhoff or on her behalf over the past five years. All six were dismissed, the university said.
gwin@vindy.com