Lorain County JFS workers strike over wages, costs of healthcare, staffing

ELYRIA — Nearly 140 union workers from Lorain County Job and Family Services went on strike Wednesday morning after months of negotiation with county management failed to produce a new contract. Members of United Auto Workers Local 2192 walked off the job in the morning and stood in the cold outside JFS offices on North Ridge Road in Elyria Township. They plan to picket 12 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., until a new agreement is reached over wages, health care costs, employee retention and other bargaining items, a union official said. Lorain County commissioners issued a statement Wednesday saying they have sent their "final and best" offer to the union for review. "Shame on the commissioners! Shame!" UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green told striking workers through a bullhorn early Wednesday morning outside the JFS offices, and leading them in chants. National UAW President Shawn Fain visited workers during strike preparations at the UAW Local 2000 Hall in Sheffield on Monday.That's a big deal, Green said. "That may not seem like a big thing, but it's huge," he told striking workers as they cheered. Fain "knows there's an issue here, he's put 100 percent support behind you. I got your back. He's got your back. Please stand up. Don't lose your voices." JFS administers SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, employment services, unemployment assistance, child care programs and other public assistance programs. Standing on the public sidewalk outside the County Administration Building in downtown Elyria on Wednesday afternoon, Local 2192's JFS chairperson Gina Jones said public support for the strikers on day one had been positive. "One, two, three, four, we won't take it anymore!" workers chanted as they marched back and forth in front of the building. "Five, six, seven, eight, commissioners negotiate!" Jones said the union invited the county back to the negotiating table Tuesday night, but the offer was refused. "They shot it down," Jones said. The union's most-recent contract expired in September and both negotiations and mediation have failed to bring the parties to agreement on wages, health care, staffing and other bargaining issues. Wage deflation and increased health care premiums have led to high employee turnover, staffing shortages and problems recruiting new employees, the union said. Members who have stayed on the job can't afford to pay their health care premiums, which commissioners raised by 13 percent in October.Some workers have since gone on Medicaid, the public health care program they administer to Lorain County residents with lower incomes. Nearly 100 union members have left JFS in the last five years even as county administrative staff has gotten raises, the union said. The county rejected a neutral fact-finding report on Jan. 12. The union said that was an unusual move, which killed the proposal. JFS offices remain open with "leadership and available staff ... committed to ensuring that services to children, families, seniors, and vulnerable residents continue with as little disruption as possible," the commissioners said in their statement to the media. "The commissioners value the dedication and hard work of JFS employees and recognize the critical role they play in serving the community," they said. "The county's offer includes a compensation package over the next three years that exceeds the statewide average for similar positions and reflects what the commissioners believe is a fair and fiscally responsible approach for both employees and taxpayers." JFS remains open for business through the strike, JFS Director Chris Cabot said in comments included with the commissioners' statement. "The leadership and staff at Lorain County Jobs and Family Services remain dedicated to the mission of the agency and are working hard to minimize any difficulties for our clients as a result of the strike," he said, adding that he and the agency "truly hope" the union accepts the county's offer. The commissioners' statement also repeated claims made in a Feb. 6 YouTube video that the union has asked for a 26 percent pay increase over three years, $5,000 signing bonuses and expanded work-from-home rules. The union has rejected those claims as "false and contradicted by the bargaining record." Marching outside the County Administration Building on Wednesday afternoon was JFS intake worker Brittiany Eber. She said she marching with her fellow union members "because of the lies" she said county officials told in the YouTube video. A JFS worker since 2018, Eber said some people might not appreciate JFS workers, but "we do care." Local 2192 also represents nearly 100 county workers at Children Services. Jones said after picketing the County Administration Building on Wednesday, members were going to sit in on a Children Services Board of Directors meeting. Cabot is a member of that board. Commissioners on Jan. 27 also rejected a fact-finder's report issued by a mediator following discussions with the Local 2192's Children Services unit.Union officials and strikers called on commissioners on Tuesday and Wednesday to negotiate a fair deal in good faith. The union's last strike in 2017 lasted three months until a deal was reached. How long are members prepared to be on the picket lines this time? "As long as we need," Eber said. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. DURING THE STRIKEThe Lorain County Job and Family Services lobby at 42485 North Ridge Road in Elyria Township remains open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., county officials said Wednesday. Clients can submit verifications through the drop boxes located outside the agency, upload documents through the Self-Service Portal, fax materials to (440) 323-3422, send documents by U.S. Postal Service or email them to LorainJFS@jfs.ohio.gov.