Lorain County files unfair labor practices charge against striking JFS workers

Lorain County officials on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union representing striking county Job and Family Services workers.The county accused the union of trying to force it to engage in "direct dealing" by bypassing designated negotiators, which is prohibited under state labor laws. The claim was filed two days after the union, United Auto Workers Local 2192, filed its own unfair labor practices claims against the county. Reviewed by The Chronicle-Telegram, the county's unfair labor practices claim or ULP alleges that Gina Jones, JFS chairperson at UAW Local 2192, approached JFS Deputy Director Dan Petticord on Feb. 17, the day before the strike began. Jones allegedly "attempted to bargain over the wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment in an attempt to reach agreement prior to the strike," according to the county. Later, by email, Petticord "informed her that there was no time to discuss the proposals prior to the strike deadline," and that negotiations were supposed to go between the county's negotiator, attorney Michael Esposito of the law firm Clemans Nelson, and Andrea Thomas, a UAW official and union negotiator. Jones said Saturday that the county's filing "doesn't have any merit." "It's not a ULP to ask for a meeting when the other side refuses to meet," she said. The union on Feb. 24 accused the county of refusing to bargain in good faith, which it is required to do under the law. The union has alleged that the county sent its representatives to the bargaining table without the authority to make proposals; failed or refused to provide proposals for a new contract; engaged in "surface bargaining" which means going through the motions of negotiating without intending to reach an agreement; and refused to bargain after Jan. 28. The county fired back in its ULP notice, claiming that "the union is so unabashed in its direct dealing that it included the direct dealing as evidence in support of an unfair labor practice field against the employer." The claims by both sides have been submitted to the State Employee Relations Board, or SERB, for review. No hearing date has been set. UAW Local 2192 represents more than 140 JFS workers seeking higher wages, changes to health care. After working without a contract since September, most of its members walked off the job Feb. 18. They are picketing the JFS building in Elyria Township and the County Administration Building on Middle Avenue in Elyria. Jones said no striking union members have crossed the picket lines. The county has said it doesn't have the budget to meet the union's demands for wage increases and retroactive pay. It rejected a neutral fact-finder's report on union demands in January. The union has accused the county of lying about its demands for higher wages and retroactive pay. It rejected the county's "last, best and final" offer before going on strike. Striking JFS workers have been attending county commissioners' meetings, many dressed in red shirts. One of those who showed up at Friday's commissioners' meeting was Tyler Brickman of Vermilion, who in his public comments criticized commissioners for making six-figure salaries. Commissioners Marty Gallagher, David Moore and Jeff Riddell each have said publicly that the job of commissioner is a part-time job. "This is part-time job. We're all putting in 40-plus hours per week," Gallagher said Friday just under 47 minutes into the meeting while discussing matters unrelated to the JFS strike. JFS workers in the room groaned audibly at Gallagher's comment. Moore and Riddell each made $102,043 and Gallagher made just over $101,763 in gross pay in 2025, according to county payroll records. Brickman, whose 2025 gross pay was $39,748, said he and his colleagues work 40-hour weeks and "can't pay our bills." "But here we are. And we're going to keep being here until we can pay our bills," Brickman told commissioners. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com