BY JOHN HOPKINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Office workers at the University of Cincinnati have agreed to strike within two weeks -- a move that could wreak havoc from the main campus in Clifton to branches in Blue Ash and Clermont County.
"We gave a strike notice (Thursday)," said Deborah Schneider, regional director of the Service Employees International Union District 925. "If we don't have a fair contract by Sept. 23, we will go on strike."
The union's 10-member bargaining team delivered the strike notice to UC officials two days after a seven-hour negotiation session "produced very little." The next scheduled session is Thursday.
District 925 represents about 825 UC office workers, mostly female and minority. Stephanie Echols, UC's labor relations director, did not return The Cincinnati Enquirer's calls to her office.
Greg Hand, a UC spokesman, said Friday afternoon that talks have not deteriorated.
"We're continuing to negotiate," he said. "There's a negotiations session scheduled for next week. The only way to resolve a strike or prevent a strike is to come to a mutually agreeable contract. That's what we want and that's what they want."
The key issue centers around the union's desire to create a wage progression mechanism in its next contract. Except for a "small raise" at the end of the probation period, there is no way for UC office workers to earn more wages without changing jobs, District 925 contends.
The union represents office support staff, technical and para-professionals. Their jobs include duties such as campus registration, purchasing, library and parking support, financial aid and admissions, said Ms. Schneider.
"We're not the teachers, but we're the people who help get all the administrative things done," she said. "We certainly hope there's no strike. We have plenty of time between now and the 23rd to settle a fair contract."
In the meantime, the union plans to launch 60-second radio spots next week on five stations.
According to the union, the creation of a wage progression mechanism will be the "bottom-line necessity to settle this contract."
