Commissioners, union trade jabs

Lorain Council to consider support

Striking Lorain County union workers and the county commissioners traded another round of jabs as the work stoppage entered its second week.

On Sept. 25, about 170 social service workers at the Lorain County Department of Jobs and Family Services went on strike due to an impasse in contract negotiations.

The most recent collective bargaining agreement expired in September 2016 for members of United Auto Workers Local 2192.

A week later, Lorain City Council was scheduled to consider a resolution supporting members of UAW Local 2192.

The workers “provide assistance to the citizens of Lorain with child care, child support, cash, food and medical assistance,” the city resolution said.

“The members of UAW Local 2198 are an integral part of the day-to-day operations at Lorain County Jobs and Family Services,” the city resolution said.

Meanwhile, Lorain County Administrator James Cordes said recent telephone problems at the Department of Job and Family Services are not related to the strike.

The Lorain County Commissioners on Oct. 2 also said county staff continue efforts to repair phone problems at the department.

On Oct. 1, the UAW Local 2192 used a full-page advertisement in The Morning Journal as their rebuttal to the commissioners’ open letter to the community published Sept. 26.

The union claimed “the call center at the agency is not accepting any incoming calls.”

“The agency is turning clients away and refusing to do any face-to-face appointments,” the UAW statement said. “Many of our clients do not have access to make changes or apply online.”

The commissioners countered that Lorain County telecommunications personnel and an outside company were working on the telephone systems at the Job and Family Services building at 42485 N. Ridge Road, Elyria, according to a statement from the commissioners.

“The phone system is outdated and has been a persistent operations challenge for the agency,” said a statement from Lorain County Commissioners Lori Kokoski, Ted Kalo and Matt Lundy. “The system is scheduled for replacement in early to mid-2018 as part of the capital improvement upgrades to the LCJFS building.

“Warwick Communications has reported to us that the system is presently operating at 40 percent capacity. Repair work is ongoing in an effort to bring the equipment as close to full operating status as possible.

“We do not at this time have a firm date or understanding when this will happen. Until the phone system replacement is complete, it will be an ongoing problem for the agency.”

The UAW Local 2192 claimed the commissioners are trying to save taxpayer money, but have hired a Michigan security firm to deal with the strike and have spent $60,000 on a consulting human resources firm for the first six months of this year.

On Oct. 2, the commissioners ripped the claims of UAW 2192 that the union members’ “medical costs have increased over 400 percent over the last several years.”

“Such a representation by Local 2192 is ridiculous and absolutely not supported by the factual numbers,” said a follow-up statement from the county commissioners. It was posted on the Lorain County Ohio Government page of Facebook.

With a spreadsheet covering years 2012-17, the commissioners argued health care total costs increased 39 percent for single coverage and 35 percent for family coverage.

Employee costs also rose by 38 percent for single coverage and 35 percent for family coverage, in the same time, according to the commissioners’ figures.

“The Lorain County Board of Commissioners views this as just another attempt at misinformation to create fear and sympathy and do avoid the real issue,” the commissioners’ statement said. “The real issue being to address the disproportionate cost resulting from having spouses use the county plan as their primary health care plan.

“This drives up the cost for everyone, and particularly the county employers as they currently pay the lion’s share of the cost,” the commissioners’ statement said.