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Developmental Disabilities workers reject union

Read the letter that Jennifer Rousculp sent to employees PDF

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 5:54 PM Monday, September 14, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Clark County Board of Developmental Disabilities employees rejected union representation in a 34-to-14 vote last week, officials confirmed Monday, Sept. 14.

But representatives of the union, Professionals Guild of Ohio, said an unfair labor practice charge against the BDD pending with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) could have impacted the election.

The 49 employees who voted are registered service workers (RSWs) who assist clients with developmental disabilities; there were 51 RSWs eligible.

The PGO filed the complaint June 26, alleging employees who signed cards supporting PGO were denied a raise while non-bargaining employees received a raise.

“On or about June 16, 2009, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Rousculp sent a letter to each RSW, (stating they) were not receiving their regularly scheduled raise because they requested a representation election,” the complaint stated.

“We believe that denying employees a wage increase that all non-union staffers received sent a clear signal,” representative John Campbell-Orde said Monday.

Jennifer Rousculp, who took over as BDD superintendent July 1, said the letter sent to RSWs was “highly missrepresented” by PGO.

“Since (the RSWs) submitted enough cards to hold an election, based on SERB and labor law, we are not allowed to affect the wages, terms or conditions of employment until the election is held,” Rousculp said. “We are not allowed to make changes.”

The employees expressed interest in a union before a board meeting where their annual 2.5 percent raise would have been approved, she said.

“We followed our attorney’s advice,” Rousculp said. “And there was a 1986 case with Lucas County MRDD in almost the exact same situation where SERB” determined no changes to employment should be made until after an election, she added.

The Board of Development Disabilities is not connected to Job & Family Services of Clark County, which is also currently involved in union negotiations.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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Having worked in both union and non-union environments I'll take non-union any day.

Once a union steps in you might make a little more money, but you sacrifice quality since management has to jump through hoops to get rid of unsafe, unproductive, useless employees.

I've witnessed jobs where people's lives were literally put in danger because of those hoops.

I don't know if unions ever were any good for employees...but these days, they seem to do more harm than good.

Tamia
9:45 PM, 9/15/2009

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Rumors flew, a few examples are...the RSW at TAC(non County) would be forced to work @ Quest(County building), none wanted, lose vacation, sick days, work week ends, holidays, Civil Service protection, already lost raise, ect. Management never said a word about Polices and Procedure, how they interpret to their benefit for a situation, or how they just up change Policies when someone does write a grievance. The vote has been made... Good luck!

another concerned
7:22 PM, 9/15/2009

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The employees were misinformed by Management comparing Quest to Muellers! It was turned down because people were scared.

another concerned
7:22 PM, 9/15/2009

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Once a union starts working on organizing workers, management's hands become tied. If management were to authorize pay raises for these staff, the union could make the charge of "unfair labor practices" (implying that management is trying to "buy" staff loyalty and inhibit the union from securing their votes).

concerned citizen
7:23 AM, 9/15/2009

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it is only fair that if you are planning on voting that all wage increases should he stopped until after the vote. After all we know that the first thing the union is going to do is go in and insist on wage increases as part of the contract that they will be negotiating. I believe that it is high time people stopped sending the blame on someone else's doorstep and take responsibiltiy for their choices. After all there are ALWAYS consequences to any and all choices that we make.

concerned
6:16 AM, 9/15/2009

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