Conciliation hearing required for 911 workers' contract talks

WARREN -- Negotiations between the 911 workers union and the county have reached an impasse.
Trumbull County Human Resources Director James W. Keating said the issue is headed to binding arbitration, now referred to as conciliation, but a date for the hearing has not been sent.
The last contract covering the 18 union employees, members of the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, expired at the end of 2004. The last bargaining took place in March or April, Keating said, and impasse was reached Aug. 31.
The State Employees Relations Board appointed a fact finder after the two sides could not agree on one. Fact finder James Rimmell submitted a report, which was approved by county commissioners this week, but the union did not appear for the fact finder's hearing and has also rejected the report, Keating said.
Calls placed to OPBA attorney Kevin Powers were not returned Friday.
The fact finder's report rejected all of the union's requests for improvements in the contract. They included:
UA 6 percent pay increase over three years.
UAn increase in longevity pay from $4 to $6 more per month for each year of service.
UA signing bonus of $1,000.
UCalculation of sick time as part of the calculation for overtime.
Keating said the county has asked the 911 employees to agree to a wage freeze. Negotiations with other bargaining units have produced a wage freeze, Keating said.