IAM Local 1363 members employed by the Catholic Diocese in Youngstown, Ohio have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement after more than a year of negotiations. The contract covers about 30 workers who maintain the four cemeteries operated by the diocese.
“This agreement represents not only improved terms, but also the beginning of a renewed commitment to job responsibilities, accountability, and employment security,” said IAM Local 1363 Business Representative Robert Towslee.
“While the process included moments of disagreement and outside anti-union efforts, we remained steadfast and focused on our shared goals,” said IAM Local 1363 Directing Business Representative Timothy Verlinden. “Together, we achieved fair resolutions on wages, benefits, time-off accruals, and holidays.”
The new contract introduces wage increases ranging from 35% to 3%, depending on each worker’s specialty and current pay rate. Employees will now receive 13 fully paid holidays annually. A joint health and safety committee with both company and worker representatives has been formed. The agreement preserves all existing benefits such as personal days, sick leave, vacation accruals, and retirement plans.
The Catholic Diocese in Youngstown serves over 117,000 Catholics across 67 parishes and one mission in northeast Ohio. It also educates more than 17,000 children in its network of 30 schools.
“Standing up for your rights as workers for the first time is always challenging. I am so proud of these members of Local 1363 and what they have achieved with solidarity,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “We look forward to more justice on the job for themselves and their families, and more job growth through unionism in the future.”
