CBA Talks Break Down Between Laborers 860, Juvenile Court

Members of Laborers Local 860 demonstrated outside of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center against what they say are dangerous conditions at the detention center and understaffing of detention officers.

A group of union members working at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court had contract negotiations halted as court officials opted to seek legal action instead. 

Laborers Local 860 in Cleveland represents roughly 140 workers at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court and Detention Center. These employees work in the Juvenile Detention Center with those in custody and on the administrative side working in office settings.

Local 860 Business Manager Anthony Liberatore Jr. said the court is not treating employees fairly and is stripping them of the rights laid out in their Collective Bargaining Agreement.

While the CBA expired a year ago, the agreement has an evergreen clause. Liberatore said the workers must vote the union out for the contract to officially expire.

Liberatore said Laborers Local 860 and the court have been in communication about a possible new agreement and related issues, but the court continues to switch legal representation, slowing down the potential progress.

Currently on their third legal representative, Liberatore said the court is now working with someone who was involved in crafting the language of the original agreement.

Although Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court officials have said they are not against the union, their actions prove otherwise, Liberatore said during a recent appearance on America’s Work Force Union Podcast.

Instead of working to resolve the disputes, the juvenile court has filed lawsuits in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

“They are simply trying to get out of their obligation,” he said. “They are turning to a sister court for interpretation of the language.”

Their most obvious anti-union action was detailed in a memo that was circulated to employees of the Juvenile Court. The memo states the court is no longer recognizing the union, despite the evergreen clause, Liberatore said.

The memo contains other anti-union rhetoric. The court has said there will be no more union stewards and union materials will be removed from all bulletin boards.        

Laborers Local 860 Field Representative Colin Sikon said the court is not being honest.

“We would love to get them (back) to the bargaining table,” said Sikon. “Right now, they choose not to recognize the union.”

Court officials filed for a declaratory judgement in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The action is reportedly intended to “clarify” contract language, action normally handled during negotiations.