Sherrod Brown visits with striking Lorain County JFS workers

ELYRIA TWP. — Sherrod Brown, a pro-union Democrat running this year to return to the U.S. Senate, visited striking Lorain County Job and Family Services workers outside JFS offices on North Ridge Road on Thursday. It was the second day of the strike by United Auto Workers Local 2192. The union failed to reach an agreement with Lorain County commissioners on a new contract by the strike deadline Wednesday. Brown, who has previously earned endorsements from the UAW, AFL-CIO, steelworkers and other labor groups, mingled with the crowd outside the Job and Family Services office. "They're eligible for the benefits they're helping others get and that's just wrong," Brown said. "The commissioners ought to come to the table and negotiate." Lorain County commissioners have said they sent the union their last, final and best offer for review. They said the workers are asking too much of a county already facing budget cuts and that they need to be good stewards of taxpayer funds. The starting wage for child support and case managers ranges from about $16 to $18.79 per hour. The office has seen high turnover and skyrocketing health care costs for the past several years. Brown referenced tax cuts coming from Columbus and Washington, D.C., benefiting high-wage earners, but that "we can't afford to pay people helping their fellow men and women" a living wage. While offering support to those on the line that afternoon, he said he heard of the turnover JFS had seen over the past five years, and how many workers can barely make a living themselves. Brown, who served as a U.S. senator from 2007 to 2025, is running to unseat the incumbent Sen. Jon Husted, R-Upper Arlington, in this year's special election. Over the din of pro-union chants, songs and honking cars, Gina Jones, Local 2192 JFS unit chairperson, said seeing Brown was exciting for workers on the picket line. "It means a lot that he came out here," she said. Brown "continues to go out and support his workers." While hoping to get back to work sooner rather than later, Jones and her members understood a strike could be a marathon, not a sprint. She said members were prepared to stay out as long as it takes to reach a fair contract. JFS workers were joined by members of other unions and former clients who supported their cause, Jones said. The JFS unit of UAW Local 2192 is seeking a new contract with wage increases, health care cost considerations and staffing improvements. Its previous three-year contract expired in September. An estimated 140 JFS workers walked off the job Wednesday. On Thursday, the striking workers held up blue and white signs reading "UAW on strike" as they gathered around fire barrels. Someone brought a cowbell and rang it in celebration when passing cars honked in support of striking workers. Union pickets are planned from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until a new agreement is reached. The union last went on strike for three months in 2017. UAW Local 2192 also represents about 90 workers at Lorain County Children Services who are negotiating with the county on a new contract. The next meeting of the county commissioners is at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building at 226 Middle Ave. in Elyria. Commissioners last month rejected a neutral fact-finder's report on negotiations with the union. UAW stands for "United Auto Workers," but the union's full name is the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. It is one of the largest unions in North America, with members many sectors of the economy including automobile manufacturing but also state and local government, higher education, hospitals and private nonprofit organizations, according to its website.There are more than 400,000 active UAW members in 600 local unions in the United States,including Puerto Rico, and Canada, and close to 600,000 retired members, the union said. Reporter Dave O'Brien contributed to this story. Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet. OFFICES REMAIN OPEN The Lorain County Job and Family Services lobby at 42485 N. 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. Mail or email them to LorainJFS@jfs.ohio.gov.