The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Sides may be close to agreement
Lorain County commissioners and the members of United Auto Workers Local 2192 may be nearing a reconciliation.
According to a media release from county administrator James Cordes, representatives from the commissioners and representatives of the union met in the evening of Oct. 11 into the early morning of Oct. 12 to discuss a possible contract for the about 160 members employed by Lorain County Job and Family Services.
A contract has not been signed by the union, according to the release.
The employees have been on strike since Sept. 25, after operating without a contract for more than a year.
According to both parties, the single issue holding up negotiations is the question of a spousal carve out or surcharge.
The commissioners are seeking
a contract item that would force spouses of Job and Family Services employees who are able to get health insurance through their employers to not be on the county health plan.
According to the release, the latest offer from the commissioners was a contract without the surcharge provision.
The union said it would present the contract to its membership, the release said.
Speaking to The Morning Journal later in the day Oct. 12, Kelly Fields, chairperson of the union, said she would not comment on any discussions amongst the union membership.
“We need to work with the commissioners, and we need to work to exist together and this doesn’t need to be played out in the paper,” Fields said.