MRDD union contracts end today

Neither union has issued an intent to strike notice.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

AUSTINTOWN — Work agreements between the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and its employee unions expired today, but strikes are not imminent.

Neither the Mahoning Education Association for Developmental Disabilities, which represents some 140 agency employees, nor American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1143, which represents about 88 employees, has issued intent-to-strike notices, said Larry Duck, MRDD superintendent.

The education association represents teachers, adult services professionals, nurses, counselors, workshop specialists, caseworkers and secretaries.

Local 1143 represents bus drivers and aides, custodians, mechanics and cooks.

Duck said the employees will continue to work under the terms of the current contracts while negotiations continue.

He said that talks between the board and the education association, which began June 22, are “moving along” but that a federal mediator was called in and was to participate in negotiations for the first time today.

Likewise, several negotiating sessions between the MRDD board and Local 1143 have occurred since talks began the beginning of the month.

Duck said he could not at this point discuss details about negotiations.

Messages left with leaders of both unions were not answered.