Lorain County JFS Workers Set Strike Deadline Over Wage Dispute

Deadline Set for Lorain County JFS Workers' Strike Over Fair Wages

February 18 Marked as Strike Date by Lorain County JFS Employees Over Wage Disputes

The members of UAW Local 2192 at Lorain County Job and Family Services have announced a strike deadline after an 86% vote in favor of striking. The walkout is set for February 18 unless the County offers a fair compensation package to 144 workers. These employees, who are essential to administering services like SNAP, Medicaid, and childcare, are pushing for wages that are consistent with the County average to combat recruitment and retention issues.

Candace MacIntosh, a JFS Investigator, voiced her concerns, asserting, “Lorain County has misplaced priorities. They’re bringing in six-figure salaried positions while claiming to have no funds for fair wages at our agency — an agency our community depends on. I just came back from maternity leave and have to keep my newborn son off the County healthcare because it's far too expensive. Instead, he is on Medicaid, the same program we administer. We’re authorizing benefits for other people while struggling ourselves.”

Under the current agreement, workers like MacIntosh have experienced a 50% increase in healthcare premiums. Furthermore, JFS staff members earn less compared to their counterparts in other county agencies. Despite budget constraints cited by the County, there has been a 142% increase in six-figure managerial roles in five years, rising from 65 to 157, while the workforce faces a 65% turnover rate due to inadequate pay and excessive workloads.

UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green expressed his frustration, “Lorain County Commissioners are letting JFS workers fall behind. Workers are skipping their bills and dropping their health care — it ain't right. Meanwhile, the County is hiring dozens of upper management positions and giving them six figure salaries. So where are Lorain County’s priorities? They’re in the toilet. All we’ve heard are crickets from their side. They aren’t bringing anything back to the table and are forcing our hand. So, we’re gonna play that hand — and we are gonna win, because we’re stronger together.”

Since the union contract expired in September 2025, Lorain County JFS employees have been negotiating with the County, reaching an impasse in December. A state-mandated fact-finding hearing took place, but the County rejected the report's recommendations in January, a rare move that leaves the workers with a strike as their last option by the February deadline.

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