Mediation quelled the possibility of a strike regarding the dispute between union employees and the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office.  Teamsters Local 377 issued a strike notice 10 days before they intended to walk out, but then postponed the event as mediation began.

Representatives from the union and the engineer’s office came together with a State Employee Relations Board mediator to discuss the dispute.  Nothing was publicly discussed following the initial session with the mediator.

Discussions about striking began in late March after Mahoning County commissioners voted in rejection of a fact finder’s report at the recommendation of Engineer Pat Ginnetti.

Employees have been working without a contract for a year, since April 2017.  Ginnetti claimed the fact finder’s recommendation did not address the issues in the contract that made it impossible to provide efficient delivery of service.  The fact finder rejected many of the changes Ginnetti had requested, including the option of scheduling 10 hour days and limiting overtime pay to certain employees.

According to Ginnetti, “These employees are among the highest-paid regional county engineer’s offices in the state and the fact finder agreed.

Ginnetti is the highest paid county employee, with gross wages of more than $144,000, something for which the union has publicly attacked him on social media.  His high salary is due in part to his dual role of being county engineer and sanitary engineer – something for which the county claims it did to cut overall costs.

Ginnetti guaranteed that the pending strike would not interrupt services.  Approximately a week ago, the department posted job listings for laborers and CDL drivers needed on a temporary basis. 

If mediation proves successful, a strike can be avoided.