Ohio University’s top administration has been served.
On Feb. 18, OU employees were notified that the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union has served a strike notice under Ohio’s collective bargaining law.
The law requires a 10-day notice before any strike, according to a memo from Linda Lonsinger, OU’s associate vice president for Finance and Administration for Human Resources, that was sent to “classified support staff, administrative staff, and police officers.”
The union and OU are currently negotiating the status of the union’s contract, which expires March 1, according to the memo.
The strike notice was filed Feb. 14, but the strike would not take place until March 1, OU spokeswoman Katie Quaranta said in an email.
The last time the three-year contract was extended was in March 2010, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
“It is our understanding that the strike vote was taken as a customary measure by the union,” Quaranta said. “This should not be interpreted as any indication of the status of negotiations. Both parties remain committed to reaching an agreement.”
The union chapter represents more than 500 employees on the Athens campus, including service and maintenance staff, according to the memo.
OU Communications and Marketing did not make Lonsinger available for comment.
“In the event that a strike occurs, the university will remain open and operate with the minimum possible disruption to students and the University community,” Lonsinger said in the memo.
James Shonborn, a grounds employee at OU and president of AFSCME, Local 1699 chapter, could not be reached for comment.
The memo states that all OU employees not represented by the union are expected to report to work and all departments are prepared to “ensure the continuation of essential services.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
