Ohio School Staff Strike for Fair Wages and Union Recognition
At Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical School in Ohio, essential staff such as cooks, custodians, maintenance, and technology workers have taken a stand for fair compensation and acknowledgment. Their recent strike underscores a persistent quest for equitable treatment and workplace respect.
The journey to address grievances began with the formation of a union. In 2023, a shift in leadership introduced policies perceived as unjust by the staff, including steep increases in health insurance costs and other restrictive measures. Workers felt sidelined, particularly when management dismissed their input, citing their non-union status.
Mike Dulin, the maintenance lead and president of Local 686, shared his frustration: “Management didn’t inform us of a new position being posted and said it was because we were non-union.” Despite high premiums, the transition to a high deductible insurance plan was decided without their input, prompting the workers to unionize.
In October 2023, these workers aligned with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4), establishing Local 686. The 27-member bargaining unit has since been striving to finalize their inaugural contract.
Negotiations, however, have been fraught with tension. “Every meeting [of management and the bargaining team] was just combat,” Dulin noted. Despite state-backed definitions of the bargaining unit, management continually contested terms, even when compromises were proposed.
After two mediation attempts, the unit resorted to a state-appointed neutral fact finder. The December 2024 report supported the workers’ request for raises, aligning them with peers and deemed fiscally responsible. Yet, management rejected the findings, leading to the decision to strike.
Dulin emphasized the importance of fair compensation: “I keep the heat and A/C on, keep the building clean and running, keep up with maintenance requests and work orders. You gotta bring your A-game every day.” The strike seeks not only fair wages but also recognition of their indispensable contributions.
The strike has garnered significant community backing, with support from groups such as the Ohio Education Association and AFSCME Council 8. Dulin expressed gratitude for this solidarity: “I’m so thankful for the support of my other union brothers and sisters. Let’s treat people right, let’s stand together, let’s get involved and we will all win together.”