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Akron Public Schools IT staff ask board to voluntarily recognize SEIU union
Summary
Several Akron Public Schools IT employees and SEIU Local 1 representatives told the board they had won a supermajority and asked the district to voluntarily recognize their union to begin bargaining, citing concerns about job security, transparency and changes to benefits and work arrangements.
Representatives of SEIU Local 1 and members of Akron Public Schools’ technology department urged the school board during public comment to voluntarily recognize a newly formed IT bargaining unit.
"The IT team here at Akron Public Schools has made it clear. It is time for changes to be made and for workers to have a voice at the table," said Camilo Via, a union representative with SEIU Local 1.
IT staff who addressed the board described winning a supermajority of signed union cards and said roughly 70% of the department supports union representation. Jeff Bellavo, a technical support specialist, described job-security concerns amid district budget discussions and alleged informal changes in remote-work policies, comp time and rumors about pay reductions. "When we have a seat at the table, we will all feel more comfortable about the decisions made about us and our roles here at APS," Bellavo said.
Joshua Hollahan, identified as a district employee of more than eight years, urged the board to recognize the union and skip a second board-ordered election, saying voluntary recognition would allow negotiations to start sooner.
Speakers asked the board to honor the IT workers’ stated choice and said voluntary recognition would avoid a two-month election process and speed bargaining on wages and conditions. Board members did not vote on the request during the meeting; staff and the board did not announce any formal response on the record.
The comments followed several other labor-related public speakers and came during a meeting that also included extensive budget discussion and multiple board votes on financial and personnel items.
