Vandalia public works employees file notice to strike

The city of Vandalia Public Works Department employees plan to strike and picket.

The Teamsters Local 957, which represents 18 workers, will strike and picket beginning at 6 a.m. March 2. The union filed its intent to strike and picket Feb. 20 with the State Employment Relations Board.

The reason for the strike is that the city and union representing all full-time and regular part-time Public Works Department employees, including technicians, mechanics and clerical workers, have not been able to reach a contract, according to the union filing.

The city and union engaged in 14 negotiation sessions between Sept. 5, 2018, and Sept. 3, 2019. There were four negotiation sessions in 2019 with a mediator on Jan. 11, Feb. 26, Feb. 27 and April 24. The mediator submitted a fact finding report on Jan. 31, 2020, which was rejected by the city, the SERB filing stated.

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