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Community organizer urges Lakewood board to support counselors after Belfair MVU union recognition dispute
Summary
A community organizer told the board that Belfair JCB, a contractor providing school counselors, informed staff it would no longer recognize SEIU District 1199 citing a religious exemption; speakers said employees were not offered a decertification vote and reported resignations after management pressure.
Bryce Dawson, a community organizer with the Workers Justice Committee and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199, used public comment time to raise concerns about counselors employed by Belfair JCB who provide services in Lakewood schools. "On September 25, SEIU 1199 received a letter from Belfair Management saying that they would no longer recognize the union claiming a religious exemption," Dawson said, adding that there has been no contact since and no process for employees to vote to decertify the union.
Dawson told the board that several employees resigned amid management pressure and disciplinary actions, and he said the religious-exemption claim rests on an ongoing court case from Columbus that he said does not clearly apply to a community service organization. "These critical workers work throughout Lakewood City Schools, providing invaluable services and counseling to children all around the city," he said, and asked the board to "stand with the workers who work within Lakewood to try and have their union re-recognized."
The speaker offered contact information and said the union and organizing groups are continuing efforts to restore representation. The board did not take immediate action during public comment; the matter was presented as information and a request for board support.
