OH: Child-support staff angered

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...612-B1-02.html

Child-support staff angered
Strike possible over cost of health coverage
Monday, June 12, 2006
Robert Vitale
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


When work begins today, many of the 200 employees of the Franklin County
Child Support Enforcement Agency might be on the picket line.

Union members decided yesterday to strike against the agency that processed
$193.5 million in child-support payments last year.

"I hope the commissioners will realize what a good work force they have and
that they shouldn't be treated this way," said Donn Mann, business
representative for Teamsters Local 284, which represents child-support
caseworkers, investigators, cashiers and others.

County Administrator Don L. Brown said it will be business as usual at the
agency today even if a strike takes place.

It would be the second Franklin County labor dispute in little over a year
to boil over into a work stoppage. About 500 Children Services workers
represented by the Professionals Guild of Ohio went on strike for 18 days in
May 2005.

The issue then and now: health-insurance costs.

Teamsters negotiators want to end recently imposed charges of $50 a month
for workers whose spouses receive county health coverage. Because the agency
needs no money from Franklin County taxpayers - it's funded entirely through
fees and payments from the state and federal governments - free coverage isn't
a burden on the budget, they say.

The child-support agency, recognized as one of Ohio's most efficient,
received more than $2.7 million last year in federal performance bonuses.
Its budget includes more than $3.4 million in payments back to the county
for rent and services.

County officials want to increase the charge for spouses to $60 a month next
year and begin charging workers with single coverage $20 monthly.

Union members rejected a State Employment Relations Board fact-finding
report that sided with the county on health coverage.

They said the county's latest wage offer - 2 percent yearly through 2008 -
would put workers behind financially.

The Teamsters originally asked for 5 percent raises this year and 2007 and a
4 percent raise in 2008.

Mann said that demand was lowered in talks last week, but he refused to say
by how much.

County and Teamsters negotiators last met Tuesday with a state mediator.
Brown said yesterday that county officials were open to more talks this
weekend.

Dusty wrote:
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.p...612-B1-02.html

Child-support staff angered
Strike possible over cost of health coverage
Monday, June 12, 2006
Robert Vitale
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


How come I think that somehow, this is going to lead to more imputed income?