Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A case against the city of Youngstown has finally concluded.

In a document released Thursday, Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board ruled in favor of the Youngstown Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 312, following an October 2024 filing of an unfair labor practice charge against the city.

SERB has ordered the city to bargain with the emergency medical technician class in good faith, and refrain from a multitude of actions against union officers, which include physically threatening gestures, racially oriented insults and accusing union officers of racism during meetings and communications during instances formed from the obligation to bargain in good faith.

The city is also ordered to notify SERB in writing within 20 calendar days from the day the order becomes final that the required steps have been taken.

Fire union president Christopher Weaver said the decision serves as a “formal validation” of the union and its membership, noting that it highlights extensive damage inflicted upon its professional image and character over the last eight years.

“Local 312 has consistently maintained that these issues could have been avoided entirely had the chief and the administration elected to comply with proper procedures and labor laws,” Weaver said. “Their refusal to do so prevented the possibility of any professional, collaborative resolution. The judge’s ruling unmistakably reflects the consequences of those choices.

“As we look ahead, IAFF Local 312 remains optimistic that the incoming administration and the new leadership of the Youngstown Fire Department will restore a professional, lawful and a mutually respectful working relationship.”

The charge was based on a September 2024 incident in the law department conference room with Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley, union president Jon Racco and union vice president Jordan Thomas in attendance with A. Joseph Fritz, a senior assistant law director, there for part of the conversation.

Finley apologized for the remarks in August after a SERB hearing prior to the ruling being final, acknowledging that it was decided that he created an unfair labor practice through that interaction.

Finley withdrew his consideration for the chief job earlier this month and will leave the department Dec. 31 — the day before Derrick McDowell becomes mayor. McDowell, running as an independent, defeated two-term incumbent Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, a Democrat, in last month’s general election.