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Hocking College Union To Meet Tonight About Strike Notice


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Members of the Hocking College Education Association Support Staff union will meet tonight to discuss a 10-day strike notice issued to the college Friday.

William Alder, chairman of the Association's Crisis Committee, says union members will have a chance to ask questions and learn more about the strike process and the college's last best offer to union employees.
 
The union will then meet Wednesday to vote on the offer.
 
Alder says if the offer does not pass, the association will meet again to vote on whether to strike and set a date.
 
He says a strike cannot take place until after the 10 days have passed.
 
Support staff members in the union have been working without a contract since July of last year.
 
Alder says one of the major sticking points is language in the proposed contract regarding "bumping rights" — or the ability for a more senior bargaining unit employee to take the same job of a less-senior member if the more experienced staff member's position is eliminated.
 
Another concern for the union, Alder says, is the possibility for the college to sub-contract as many as 10 bargaining unit positions over the life of the contract, which is approximately three years.  
 
Hocking College spokeswoman Laura Alloway says the college is hopeful an agreement on the contract can be reached this week.
 
Alloway says the college is focusing on minimizing the effects of a strike on students.