Hocking College support staff union says it’s about ready to strike

Negotiations between Hocking College and its support staff intensified last week when the group representing food service, maintenance, clerical and custodial employees authorized its bargaining team to issue a strike notice if talks continue to show no progress.

During a vote on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Hocking College Education Association – Support Staff Professionals (HCEA-SSP) voted to authorize the Support Staff Bargaining Team to issue a 10-day strike notice to Hocking College if "negotiations break down any further and they deem it necessary," according to a press release.

HCEA-SSP, which has been in contract negotiations with the college since April 2011 pointed out in the release that its employees have been working without a contract since July 1, 2011.

The group held the meeting and took the vote "because they are frustrated at the lack of progress being made between the parties at the negotiation table," the release stated.

"Members are serious about reaching an agreement that is fair for both sides," the release added. "There are several issues of importance that remain on the table and have thus far impeded contract settlement. None of the issues has to do with a raise in salaries."

HCEA-SSP spokesperson Will Alder said Friday that right now the group isn't scheduled to go back to the negotiation table.

"I think that both parties are going to get together and schedule another day for bargaining and negotiations," he said. "We don't want to reach an impasse, where we can't go any further."

The release said that with a "lack of movement on the issues that remain on the table," the support staff is giving "serious consideration" to going out on strike.

"We do not want to go on strike, but if the college is not willing to work with us on fair language concerning the rights of the support staff employees, we will end up having to implement a work stoppage," said Alder.

He said his group is willing to return to the table, and neither side wants a work stoppage. The issues at hand, he said, involve the outsourcing of bargaining unit jobs and details involving seniority of staff.

Alder said that negotiations have been stuck on these issues since a tentative agreement was voted down nearly unanimously by support staff members in December.

"The language in that included outsourcing and the erosion of our seniority rights, especially when it has to do with a reduction in force," he said.

For instance, he said, if a secretary with 25 years experience was laid off from one department, she wouldn't be eligible for a position in another department.

HOCKING COLLEGE SPOKESPERSON Laura Alloway has confirmed that the school has not received a 10-day notice regarding intent to strike.

"Hocking College has been committed to negotiating in good faith to reach an equitable agreement," she said in an emailed response statement. "We would like to reach an agreement, and believe the union shares this goal. However, negotiations are taking place on the backdrop of unprecedented financial challenges and state funding reductions. Through a new support staff contract, Hocking College needs to acquire the tools and flexibility to effectively manage our changing circumstances."

Alloway said that the work of all employees is vitally important to the college's success.

"If a strike were to occur, Hocking College will continue to fulfill our important academic mission and our obligation to the students, parents, faculty and entire campus community," she said. "We will work to provide essential services to our students for as long as it takes to reach an agreement. Our core emphasis is that student success will not be impacted. Hocking College will maintain classes, library and support services."

She said that at this time, college administrators are engaged in contingency planning to ensure the continuation of the college's academic mission.

The support staff group, meanwhile, has questioned the validity of these supposed economic woes, citing in another press release the school sending President Ron Erickson and Board of Trustee President Mike Brooks to a conference held by the Association of Community College Trustees that the college hasn't sent anyone to in the past.

"The conference, held in Dallas, Texas from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15, 2011, had a registration fee of $780 for Erickson and $905 for Brooks," the release said. "The total trip expenses for the two gentlemen to attend this conference added up to $4,523.40 and they did not even stay for the entire conference – they left a day early."

The release even questioned two breakfasts that were charged at $42.72 each, which the support staff called "decadent."

"If the College is in such dire straits financially, why would they send two people to a conference that was never before attended? This is a question that members of the Hocking College Support Staff are trying to figure out," the release said. "They are trying to fight to keep basic rights in their contract because the college is claiming they are having financial woes, and they spend unnecessary funds to send two men to a conference out of state. What else are they needlessly spending money on?"

HCEA-SSP said they have requested that both bargaining teams agree to enter into fact finding by an unbiased third-party federal mediator. They said the college has declined.

"Fact finding on the outstanding issues that are being posed as cost-cutting measures by the college would definitely help define whether what the college is proposing is warranted," the release concluded.

HCEA-SSP is the certified bargaining agent for support staff employees at Hocking College. This includes employees in food service, maintenance, clerical, technicians and custodians.