Strike possible for children services workers

Contract negotiations between Montgomery County and the union that represents children services workers have broken down, and union officials say a strike is possible if the county does not come back to the negotiating table.

About 100 children services employees packed into the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning meeting, and a dozen workers during the public session portion criticized the county's contract offer to the roughly 230 members of the Profession Guild of Ohio, Council 12.

Union officials said the county recently rewarded children services supervisors and managers with "huge" pay increases but it seeks to eliminate step increases and longevity pay for union workers.

"They don't want to work with us," said Eric Kanthak, union president.

County officials said the offer is fair and consistent with the compensation packages of other county employees.

County Administrator Joe Tuss said children services employees in Montgomery County on average make significantly more than their peers in other comparable counties.