Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools and members of OAPSE Local #686 have reached a tentative agreement to end the ongoing strike. The agreement will be reviewed and voted on at a special Board of Education meeting.

February 28, 2025

A tentative agreement has been reached between Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools and members of OAPSE Local #686. The agreement will be voted on for approval at a special Board of Education meeting to be held on March 8.

On Monday, February 24, members of the OAPSE 686 and Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools negotiating teams met for their sixth mediation session. The session was facilitated by SERB (State Employee Relationship Board). A tentative agreement was reached between OAPSE 686 and EFCTS. 

On Wednesday, February 26, the agreement was reviewed, voted on, and ratified by OAPSE 686 membership.

The Eastland-Fairfield Board of Education will hold a special Board meeting on Saturday, March 8, at which the agreement will be presented and voted on for approval. 

A return-to-work plan for all staff is in development to ensure a continued positive climate and culture across the district as well as a smooth transition of services.

More information will be available following the Board of Education meeting on March 8.

The Ohio AFL-CIO posted the following statement:

A tentative agreement has been reached at Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools, ensuring a fair deal for employees. The union unanimously ratified the agreement, demonstrating strong support from its members.

The Board is scheduled to vote on the agreement on March 8th, and employees are set to return to work on March 11th. This agreement reflects the dedication and perseverance of all involved in reaching a resolution.

Solidarity and commitment to fairness have played a key role in this process, and the union appreciates the support of its members, the leadership and guidance of OAPSE, AFSCME, the AFL-CIO, Staff, Students, Community Members, and the countless labor unions that aided us throughout the strike.

Background on the strike

Twenty-five OAPSE members had been on strike at the career center since January 8. They are employed in a variety of positions including kitchen staff, IT professionals and custodians.

“I keep the heat and A/C on, keep the building clean and running, keep up with maintenance requests and work orders. You gotta bring your A-game every day,” said Mike Dulin, maintenance lead at the career center and president of Local 686. “So, if you want people to do the job and do it well, you’ve got to be paying people fairly.”

Our friends at the Groveport Messenger have done an excellent job of covering the strike, to read the Messenger’s most recent article visit ColumbusMessenger.com.