Kent Safety Officials Watching Collective Bargaining Bill

Kent safety officials are watching Columbus closely as state legislators continue with a measure that would potentially eliminate collective barganining for thousands of cops, firefighters, teachers and other public employees in Ohio.

The Ohio Senate narrowly passed the controversial Senate Bill 5 Wednesday, which includes provisions for eliminating collective bargaining agreements for public employee unions. The measure could go to the Ohio House for a vote as early as next week.

Kent Safety Director William Lillich said it's too early to tell how big of an effect the bill, if passed and ultimately signed into law by Gov. John Kasich, will have on Kent's safety forces.

"I think that we will continue to work effectively with our union employees in police and fire and, for that matter, with the whole city," Lillich said. "But until we see the final product of the legislature, I can’t go into any more detail than that.”

Kent Police Chief Michelle Lee said the safety forces have no control over what action legislators take, so she's merely waiting to see what the end result is out of Columbus.

“It is a wait and see," Lee said. "So I’m not getting too concerned one way or the other about it just yet until there’s more information out there.”

Like his counterparts, Kent Fire Chief James Williams is simply waiting until the situation plays out.

"I think we’re kind of in a position where we’re going to have to sit back and wait until the bill and all its amendments are worked out," Williams said. "Every day it seems to change.

“At this point, it’s still got to go to the house," he said. "As with any other bill, you don’t know what amendments will be attached to it.”

Later this year, the city will start talks on the next round of contracts with all of the unions representing firefighters, police department staff and clerical employees. This year marks the last year for contracts for all the city's unions.

Liz Zorc, Kent's human resources manager, said many Ohio communities that are in the midst of contract negotiations are settling on short-term agreements until the Ohio General Assembly takes final action on the issue.

A total of six unions represent the more than 150 municipal employees in Kent, about 100 of which are police and fire personnel. All but 11 safety employees are represented by a union.

Lillich said unions were formally established in Kent in 1985, but some employee representation existed prior to that. He said there are some issues that may remain open for bargaining, such as wages, but it's tough to gauge the effect of the bill before the Ohio House and governor act.

“And we don’t know the impact the legislation may have on existing agreements,” Lillich said.

In 2009, the city's union employees negotiated for a 3 percent raise. In 2010, they received a 2.75 percent pay increase. This year, the final year of their contracts, they will receive a 2.5 percent pay increase.

Zorc said it's unclear how the action in Columbus will dictate what happens with Kent's unions.

"It's going to affect what we negotiate," Zorc said.