Franklin County [Ohio] Children Services (FCCS) workers who have dedicated their professional careers to protecting the livelihoods of kids, took a stand in favor of their own welfare in May. The group of almost 550 employees, including social workers, caseworkers, court liaisons and foster care employees represented by the AFT's Professionals Guild of Ohio, went on strike May 18, rejecting the county's demand that they start paying for health insurance.

"Their last proposal was unacceptable," says Beth Earl, a social worker and president of the Franklin County local.

Under that proposal, employees would have to start paying a portion of their health insurance-$70 a month in 2006, the second year of the contract, and $70-plus a yet-to-be defined percentage of the cost increase each month during the third year of the pact. The county's original proposal would have had workers paying about $300 a month for health insurance.

"We are not ignorant of the fact that changes need to be made," says Earl. "But they have not thought out their plan."

Specifically, she says, the county has not, to the union's knowledge, researched other companies, including the one suggested by the union early in negotiations; nor has the county thoughtfully considered cost-saving options like increasing co-pays. The county also "wants a single person to pay as much as employees with family coverage," Earl says, "which is unfair." Likewise, if spouses work for FCCS, each one has to pay-there is no opt out.

The decision to strike was not made in haste. Negotiations between the union and the agency for the three-year agreement reached an impasse in February. Union members have continued working under two contract extensions since the agreement's Jan. 31 expiration.

The strike authorization vote was prompted by arbitrator Jerry B. Sellman's proposed solution to the standoff. Although Sellman flatly rejected the county's offer of a 1 percent pay increase in 2005 with a reopener in 2006 for the remainder of the contract-recommending instead 3 percent pay increases in each year of the three-year agreement-he sought middle ground on the healthcare issue.

Specifically, Sellman said the agency should modestly increase its contributions and employees should start paying for the benefit. Sellman's proposal would cost workers about $200 a month in the first year alone, says PGO executive director Gary Seigerst.

Union officials say that the monthly insurance tab-even if it is combined with a 3 percent salary increase-would result in a net pay cut for many employees.

The Columbus Dispatch, which has been covering the contract battle, reported that the annual salary for the agency's social workers is $36,620 and $28,727 for clerical employees. Seigerst notes, however, that starting wages at the agency range from $8 to $12 an hour.

Even Sellman acknowledged that FCCS has not kept up with other comparable agencies in Ohio.

"Not only are the FCCS employees paid less than other comparable agencies, employees of comparable agencies have been given 3 percent to 4 percent increases in their latest [collective bargaining] agreements," he said.

Franklin County Children Services employees "are dedicated to serving the children of this community, but they cannot afford to accept a contract that reduces the amount of money they take home to their families," Seigerst says.

Despite closure of three of the five FCCS offices because of the strike, the union members have been greeted with honks and other salutations from passersby, as well as gestures of goodwill. "A law office brought us doughnuts; a bunch of high school kids came down and picketed with us; former [FCCS] employees have come back to see if we need anything; and churches are taking up collections for food," says Earl, noting that a Franklin County Common pleas judge granted FCCS a temporary restraining order limiting the number of protesters to 20 at each entrance.

"I think there are some people who think we should pay," says Earl. "But they don't know how much we've given up over the years to keep the benefit. Last contract, we settled for 1 percent raises across-the-board because we wanted to keep our benefits."