County makes 'last, best and final' offer to JFS union ahead of strike deadline

Lorain County commissioners on Friday made a "last, best and final offer" to the union representing county Job and Family Services workers who have threatened to strike next week if their demands for a new contract are not met. If a contract isn't finalized by Feb. 18, the union-imposed deadline, the 144 members of United Auto Workers Local 2192 will go on strike with the backing of their parent union, representatives said. Commissioners David Moore and Jeff Riddell came out of a closed executive session following their meeting Friday and approved a resolution "ratifying the issuance of a last, best and final offer" to the union "and approving the tentative agreement between the parties if such offer is ratified by the union." Commissioner Marty Gallagher was absent. Messages seeking further comment on that offer were left for both men. Though she wouldn't comment on the county's offer Friday, commissioners "didn't budge on any of our requests," said Gina Jones, Local 2192 chairperson at JFS and member of the union bargaining committee. Jones provided The Chronicle-Telegram a copy of a letter dated Friday that the union sent to an attorney negotiating for the county. In the letter, the union rejected the county's version of negotiations, saying it had bargained in good faith and made proposals that a neutral fact-finder "validated" in a report dated Jan. 7. Commissioners unanimously rejected that fact-finding report. The letter also said that the county's offer "asserts that further bargaining would not produce an agreement. The union does not share that view and does not consider the parties to be at impasse. The union remains willing to meet, discuss, and exchange proposals in good faith in pursuit of a fair successor agreement." "The union remains prepared to meet at any time to continue negotiations and reach an agreement that addresses wages, healthcare affordability, retention, and service stability for the people served by this agency," the letter said. JFS workers administer public assistance programs including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC and child support, among others. The union has said some workers make so little money that some of them are eligible for Medicaid. The county responded to a Feb. 3 strike notice with a video criticizing the union's demands, calling them "unrealistic" in the face of a county budget crisis and years of rising costs. The union called the allegations in the video "simply false" and denied making any of the demands it mentioned. It said Lorain County JFS workers rank near the bottom for pay among similar agencies statewide and that employee turnover is at a crisis point. The Local 2192 unit representing county Children Services workers also is seeking a new contract with the county. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com