Leaders of the Campaign Workers Guild are accusing the Ohio Democratic Party, including Chairman David Pepper, of refusing to meet with them face-to-face, and instead hiring a “union busting” law firm to represent it in contract negotiations.

Less than three months before a November election where they hope to make gains within the state, the Ohio Democratic Party is facing adversity from within its own ranks.

The party that has long stood with labor unions and is largely funded by organized labor is now embroiled in a fight with its own union workers.

Leaders of the Campaign Workers Guild within the state organization are accusing party officials, including Chairman David Pepper, of refusing to meet with them face-to-face and instead hiring a “union busting” law firm to represent it in contract negotiations with the newly formed union.

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“After several day-long bargaining sessions, the ODP has made it clear to us that they are not serious about negotiating a fair contract that lives up to our Democratic values,” union leaders wrote Thursday in a letter to county party chairs across the state.

“We were so excited to see our party stand for working people by ultimately recognizing our union. Unfortunately, this excitement has not held at the bargaining table, where we’ve been continually disappointed and angered as the ODP has refused to present proposals that ensure us the union protections and provide us the working conditions we need and deserve.”

This is the first round of contract negotiations since the Ohio Democratic Party in July became the first state party in the nation to recognize the Campaign Workers Guild and its election workers, which largely consist of field organizers. Pepper praised the move as living up to the party’s Democratic values and ensuring that the more-than 80 workers are treated fairly.

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Pepper still supports the union, but that has not led to easy contract negotiations. “We remain far apart on many issues of critical importance to our members,” said the letter from union leaders, highlighting problems with pay, mileage reimbursement and a “fair” discipline policy.

The timing of the labor strife is less than desirable for the state party, which is working to take advantage of what many experts think will be a good election year for Democrats. Republicans currently control all branches and offices of state government.

The party is proud to be the first nationally to recognize the union, said Dave DeWitt, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party.

“Because this is the first contract of its type in the nation, there are many details to work through. But in only four weeks, negotiations over the contract itself have led to agreement on half the points of negotiation, and we’ve made progress on many others,” he said.

Attorney Michael Mentel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, a Democrat and former Columbus City Council president, is leading the negotiations. Talks reportedly are continuing today.

But in the letter, union leaders say Conor Meeks of Taft Stettinius is the lead spokesman in the talks, a Republican who “specializes in union avoidance—a polite term for union busting. The partner advising him, Kerry Hastings, is a Republican voter here in Ohio who also specializes in union avoidance, meaning he has made his career fighting against working people’s unions.”

A message for comment was left with Meeks.

According to the union letter, the Democratic Party is offering a salary schedule that has most members making $12.25 per hour — an amount less than the $15 minimum wage that some Democrats have advocated statewide — and as low as $10.50 per hour as Election Day nears.

The union also says the party is “proposing a car allowance that doesn’t even cover the cost of gas, let alone other expenses we incur as we drive our cars into the ground working to elect Democrats across this state.”

DeWitt said that while talks take place, "we and our growing team of organizers are out knocking on the doors and making the phone calls that will elect our strong ticket of candidates up and down the ballot.”

jsiegel@dispatch.com

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