Members of the City of Cincinnati's largest employee union overwhelmingly rejected a contract proposal put forth by an independent mediator Thursday night.

        The vote leaves nearly 2,400 city employees without a contract — about half of the city's staff — and moves them one step closer to a potential strike that would disrupt a variety of city services from garbage collection and street repair to sewage plant operations and health care.

        City Manager John Shirey said Friday that he has asked each of his department heads to prepare contingency plans in the event of a strike.

        He said core services such as garbage collection along with the operation of water and sewage plants would continue, if on a smaller scale.

        “I can't say there won't be any disruption,” he added.

        Members of Local 1543 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees rejected the proposed contract — called a “fact finding report” — by a vote of 1,503 to 273.

        The union needed a three-fifths majority to reject the report.

        Mr. Shirey said city administration will meet with union leaders Tuesday or Wednesday to hear what they think the next step should be. There are three options:

        • Continue negotiations.

        • Enter into binding arbitration with an independent body.

        • Strike, after giving the city a 10-day notice.

        Bob Turner, the union's regional director, said the parties likely will ask to return to the bargaining table. He hopes that will happen next week.

        But, he said, union leadership will be pressured to call for a strike if no agreement is made in three or four weeks.

        Tracy Grome, a union member and dental assistant in the city Health Department, said she has heard people talking about a strike date of Sept. 13.

        “Everybody I've talked to has just had it,” Ms. Grome said. “Everyone here is pretty much ready to walk.”

        Mr. Turner said the main problem with the proposed contract is that it calls for his union employees to pay large health insurance premiums while police and firefighters have to pay nothing or a “token” amount.

        “The idea that AFSCME is treated differently than police and fire employees had a lot to do with the vote we saw,” Mr. Turner said.

        But Mr. Shirey said the police contract was negotiated before the city received word about the spiraling cost of health insurance.

        They found out about rising health care costs midway through negotiating a contract with firefighters, who pay $10 a month for single coverage and $20 for family coverage.

        The fact-finding report suggests AFSCME members pay 5 percent in the first year of the contract (capped at $9.50 for single and $25 family); 7 percent in the second year (capped at $15 and $40); and 10 percent in the final year (capped at $20 and $50).

        Yodie Mitchell, president of Local 1543, said this isn't a war between her union members and police officers and firefighters. She said it's a question of fairness.

        “Why make up for the budget shortfall in the city on the backs of the people who make the least money?” Ms. Mitchell said. “It doesn't make any sense, and they deserve better.”

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