Candidates visit JFS union workers fighting cold, wind on Day 3 of strike

ELYRIA TWP. — Striking Lorain County Job and Family Services workers spent a cold, windy Friday on the picket lines along North Ridge Road and Elyria Avenue outside their workplace. About three dozen walked the sides of the roads, waving their "UAW on strike" signs bundled up in warm coats and hats against the chill. Passing cars honked every few seconds, while passing semi trucks blasted their horns, getting cheers in response. Striking workers, who huddled around fires in burn barrels they set up in the tree lawns outside JFS offices, have had visits from Democratic lawmakers and candidates this week among their other high-profile supporters in the effort. State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, stopped by Friday to take photos with and talk to union members. He is running for the Ohio Senate in November against fellow Rep. Gayle Manning, R-Avon. Democrats Mike Baker and Graig Bansek also have visited the picket lines: Baker on Wednesday morning and Bansek on Friday afternoon. The two men will face off in the Democratic primary in May to be their party's candidate for the Ohio 52nd House seat, with the winner facing state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, in November. Workers are taking shifts across 12 hours each day from about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., members and officials said. Lorain County Sheriff's deputies sat nearby in their parked cruisers, keeping an eye on the pickets. United Auto Workers Local 2192, which represents about 140 JFS workers, is seeking a fair contract it says needs to include wage increases to ensure staff retention and prevent shortages. Health care premium costs for the workers are up over the past several years, members have said, and went up by 13 percent in October following a vote by commissioners. Low wages and health care costs have led to high worker turnover, the union said. Contract negotiations started in July, with the contract expiring in September. Commissioners Marty Gallagher, David Moore and Jeff Riddell — all Republicans — rejected a neutral fact-finder's report in January and didn't respond to a union offer late Tuesday to return to the negotiating table, union officials said. "Radio silence" from commissioners and the county has been in place since then, Local 2192 JFS chairperson Gina Jones said Friday, standing on the side of North Ridge Road on Friday. Moore said Friday the county has made its last, best and final offer. "We have a best and final offer that is on the table ready (to) sign which other county employee unions have already done," he said in a text message. Jones previously said the county's offer didn't budge on any of the union's requests. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic former U.S. senator running this year to regain his seat in Congress, stopped by the pickets on Thursday. He and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Upper Arlington, will face off in a special election in November. UAW National President Shawn Fain was in Sheffield on Monday meeting with workers doing strike preparations. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.