'We have the power,' organizers call for actions at Lorain County Labor Fest

The Lorain County Labor Fest took on a special intensity on Sunday, as the county is in the midst of the longest public sector strike in the history of Ohio. Employees of Lorain County Job and Family Services, who are members of United Auto Workers Local 2192, have been on strike since February. The 28th annual celebration of organized labor in the county came as the strike crossed the 200 day mark. Labor organizers and political candidates from the local, state and even national level spoke at the event and called on the members of Local 2192 to continue their fight and on other local workers — union and otherwise — to support them. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat and former U.S. Senator running to unseat Sen. Jon Husted, R-Upper Arlington, in a special election in November, spoke to the crowd about the history of organized labor. He told them that many of the benefits like Medicare, Social Security and worker's protections had not been offered by companies or the government, but won by labor organizations. "Just as much as back then, with Social Security, and labor laws, and workers' comp, and minimum wage, and prohibition on child labor, that stuff wasn't given to us, it is (here) because you fought for it," Brown said. "And just as much in the '30s, in the '60s and in the 70s fighting for those kinds of things for workers, that fight is still alive. In fact, it is more alive than ever because the system is so rigged against workers and so rigged against people that are struggling and so rigged against the middle class." Gina Jones, JFS chairperson for UAW Local 2192, opened the speeches at the event, saying that she and her fellow union members would continue to fight for a fair wage and calling on those in attendance to vote against Lorain County Commissioner Jeff Riddell, a Republican, in November. "We will continue to stand until the three Republican Lorain County Commissioners deliver the fair contract we deserve," Jones said, drawing a rapture of cheers and applause from the crowd. "Our votes have real consequences, and right now our country is paying the price for financial mismanagement. These commissioners were elected to serve us, we are their constituents. That means they have a responsibility to act. We must educate ourselves before casting our ballots, ensure our friends and neighbors are registered and get everyone to the polls. We must do better for our city, our county, our state and our country. That starts with electing leaders who stand with the working people, not against us." Jones called on attendees to vote for Democrat Carolyn White, who is challenging Riddell in November. Elyria City Councilman Andrew Lipian, I-1st Ward, is running a write-in campaign for the seat. It is not only local UAW leaders who have trained their sights on the commissioner's race, as the union announced last month that it would throw its full weight behind the campaign to unseat Riddell. International UAW President Sean Fain spoke at Labor Fest to reiterate that point, saying that UAW canvassers would be working throughout the county up through election day to drum up support for White. "UAW Local 2192 has repeatedly called for good faith negotiations, but the commissioners are choosing to disregard all of it," Fain said. "They've led Lorain County into an escalation of a triple crisis. Thanks to them, you are now facing a staffing crisis, a retention crisis and a leadership crisis. Well they can continue to refuse to solve the staffing and retention crisis, but all it would take to solve it is a fair contract. But while they refuse to do that, we do have one thing we can control. We have the power to solve the leadership crisis in Lorain County." The fervor and national focus on Labor Fest and Lorain County more broadly is driven in large part by the ongoing strike, but also because statewide and national politicians recognize that Lorain County in many ways serves as a microcosm of Ohio writ large. "Lorain County is the epitome of Ohio in so many ways," John Kulewicz, who is running as a Democrat against Ohio Attorney General Keith Faber, told a Chronicle reporter. "It has gone through the difficulties of the decline of the Industrial Revolution, people here have worked harder than anybody can imagine for their lives, for their careers. The industry left town, it has been a long recovery period, but I see communities bouncing back and I see communities still having need for a lot of help." Kulewicz said that as AG, he would seek to ease financial burdens on Ohioans by working harder to enforce consumer protections, punish wage theft and go after monopoly pricing. Among the candidates who were expected to speak was Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton, but her speaking appearance was cancelled after an armed individual at the Canfield Fair lunged at her. Acton still visited Lorain and spoke with supporters, but she did not address the crowd. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.