Approval of contract saves jobs at child support agency

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Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally IV

By John w. Goodwin jr.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners have approved a contract agreement with AFSCME Local 3577 that will save about seven jobs in the Child Support Enforcement Agency.

Commissioners David Ludt and John McNally voted in favor of a resolution accepting the agreement at a meeting Thursday evening. Commissioner Anthony Traficanti was not present.

Judee Genetin, director of Jobs and Family Services, the department under which CSEA operates, said members of the union agreed to give up one paid workday during each pay period, meaning the employees would be paid for 72 hours in each 80-hour pay period.

Genetin said the agreement would mean continued employment for seven union members in CSEA who would have otherwise faced layoffs. There are 61 AFSCME members in CSEA.

Janet Droney, AFSCME Local 3577 president, told commissioners that union members were not happy about making the concession, but realized it was necessary.

“It had to be done; there is nothing we can do about it,” she told commissioners during the meeting. “I am not going to thank you for it, but it did pass.”

Droney said she is hopeful the agreement will take the department through the end of the year without any layoffs.

Genetin said she is still waiting to see what funds are allocated to Jobs and Family Services from the state. She does not expect a big upturn in state funding, but hopes the funding will keep the department at current levels.

“I am still waiting to see what happens at the state level. We don’t know what those figures for child support will be. I don’t think it will be enough to end this agreement, but I hope it can keep it stable,” she said.

The county’s Department of Job and Family Services has suffered a $5 million combined state- and federal-funding loss since 2007.

Members of Teamsters Local 377, which represents about 10 supervisors in the Child Support Enforcement Agency, told commissioners they would like consideration to make the same concessions as members of AFSCME before any Teamster members are laid off. Three members of the Teamsters were handed pink slips last week.

“Our issue is that AFSCME came to an agreement with commissioners. We have a smaller group, but we want the same deal as AFSCME,” said Sam Prosser, Teamsters Local 377 president.

The contract with the Teamsters is still under negotiation, but Barbara Holzschuh, chief steward of the Teamsters, said she cannot understand why the Teamsters cannot simply have a similar agreement.

“We are not asking for anything different. We are willing to take the hit,” she said.

Commissioner Ludt said any agreement with the Teamsters has not gone through the proper channels before reaching commissioners, and nothing can be said until something is placed before commissioners for a vote.

“Whatever deal they bring before us, we will either vote for it or against it,” he said.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

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