JUSTICE FOR JUSTICE CENTER WORKERS

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Strips Workers of Their Rights

And we have to ask WHY?

How does not recognizing their voice as union members benefit the Juvenile Court, its youth and Cuyahoga County taxpayers?

December 1, 2020

The day Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court walked away from its workers

On December 1, 2020, the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court, unilaterally and without legal basis, walked away from the bargaining table with its workers’ union, breached contracts with worker representation, suspended its recognition of members’ labor union coverage, and stripped its probation workers, detention staff as well as court support staff of contractually secured rights and privileges.

And to what end? How does this make the court more efficient or safer for the community it serves

Cleveland’s Laborers Local 860 represents 135 Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court employees.

In 2020, dedicated men and women working at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center voiced multiple concerns to Laborers Local 860 about staffing and schedules that they considered detrimental to court effectiveness as well as being potentially dangerous.

Yet, due to the machinations of the juvenile court administration, 135 men and women have been forced, without consent, into working without a contract or union representation.

The Court's Assault Against Its Employees' Rights

Refusal to Recognize the Collective Voice of Labor

At the Juvenile Justice Center, worker bulletin boards have been removed, labor stewards have been eliminated, and grievances are not being heard.

Ignoring Mandatory Training Requirements

Essential training of court workers in areas such as workplace safety and CPR has gone ignored despite the union requirements.

Leaving Workers at the Bargaining Table

Rather than follow Department of Labor's recommendations for arbitration, the Court used a "sister court" to exit out of contract negotiations.

Using Tax Money to Defend its Wrongful Acts

The Court has paid out multiple arbitration awards resulting in excessive spending in backpay, settlements, arbitration fees and court costs.

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Administration

Who are the architects of this attack on the rights of Juvenile Justice Center Workers?

County Administrator Tess Neff Proves No Friend to Labor

Lakewood City Councilwomen Tess Neff is the Cuyahoga County Administrator of the Juvenile Court. In the past, Tess Neff has proclaimed the backing of labor in her campaign to be elected to Lakewood City Council. In Ms. Neff’s own words: “I am honored to be endorsed by the dedicated and hard-working men and women in labor.”

If Tess Neff is a pro-labor Democrat who claims that labor “lines up” to support her, why is she stripping the rights of labor workers on her very own staff?

Administrative Judge Thomas O'Malley Blocks Labor's Voice

Judge Thomas F. O’Malley is the Administrative Judge on the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. As administrative judge, Judge Thomas O’Malley no longer recognizes the union representation of 135 staff members working in his court.

This is a blow to the rights of every Local 860 member working in Judge O’Malley’s courthouse.

Failings of Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in the News

Detained youth in Cuyahoga County face unacceptably harsh conditions.

Juvenile Court has only itself to blame for ending union contract on safe, stable staffing.

Judge cites staffing ‘crisis’ in asking for raises for Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center officers.

STRIPPED OF THEIR UNION REPRESENTATION AND PROTECTION,

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Workers Are Worried

A December 1, 2020 memo issued by administrator Tess Neff told employees involved in collective bargaining that attorneys representing the court filed a legal action in the General Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. She claimed this was because they could not reach an agreement on a new contract for the workers represented by Local 860.

Despite the U.S. Department of Labor’s standard recommendation for arbitration, the Court chose to turn to a “sister court” for a legal ruling to release them from contract negotiations and strip employees of representation by Local 860.

She also stated that effective on that day, the former collective bargaining agreements no longer applied to these workers.

Despite this, Ms. Neff told the 135 workers impacted by the legal decision that there was “no reason to worry or panic.”

Several days leter, Ms. Neff informed Local 860 that they would no longer process grievances provided by the union.

Needless to say, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center workers are worried. They are feeling panic. They have seen a “sister court’s” legal ruling strip their right to collectively bargain as well as to lose their representation and protections as members of the labor union.

This is not just or fair treatment of the 135 workers who, according to Ms. Neff, “the children and families in our community are depending on to do good work.”

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Tell Tess Neff & Judge Thomas O'Malley to Provide Justice to Justice Department Workers.

Tell Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court to return to the bargaining table with its workers and Cleveland's Laborers Local 860.

It’s neither fair nor just to use legal rulings to strip workers of their rights as members of the local union.

The union men and women working at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court are proudly represented by Laborers Local #860 in Cleveland, Ohio.