DID YOU THINK JACKSON WAS BAD AT 13.5% OF WOMEN ON TOWNSHIP PAYROLL? HOW ABOUT PLAIN? ONLY 5.5% OF PLAIN'S EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN!

Unless you are politically connected, a woman can forget getting a top level, high paying job in Stark County's most urban township.

As stunning as Jackson Township's numbers were in last week's SCPR series (volume 12) on gender equity, Plain's are even worse.

Of 94 township employees (full and part time, not including elected officials), on 5.5% of Plain's employees are women.

Of 68 township full-time employees, only 10% are women.

It appears to the SCPR that one way women can improve their lot in Plain Township government is to be politically connected.

Township Administrator Lisa Jackson Sabina Campbell is:

• the daughter of former Stark County commissioner Gayle Jackson, 
• the sister of Stark County Democratic Party Political Director,
• the wife of Stark County recorder Rick Campbell

all of whom are part of what the SCPR calls the Johnnie A. Maier, Jr Loyalty Club.  Maier is a former chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party and is currently Massillon clerk of course with Shane Jackson employed as his chief deputy.

Pictured in the left hand margin is long time Plain Township trustee Louis P. Giavasis who is the brother of Stark County Dems' chairman Phil Giavasis.

Maier, Jr., by the way, says that Gayle Jackson is the best Stark County commissioner that Stark County has ever had.

Louis also works for Democratic Stark County Clerk of Courts Nancy Giavasis as does fellow trustee Al Leno, II.  

The SCPR has written prolifically over the nearly seven years of this blog about the political machinations which The Report believes took place to provide Jackson-Sabina-Campbell the opportunity to be Plain's top female employee and only second to Fire Chief Donald Snyder.

Snyder earns $78,500 after 35 years of employment.  Jackson-Sabina-Campbell earns $72,000 after some 18 years of employment.

But Administrator Campbell is the only female employee who does well pay-wise compared to the men that the township employs.

At number 62 is Linda Gambol.  After more than 20 years of service she only earns $37,148 which is a far cry from the administrator lofty $72,000.

Gambol has more service than many of the men ahead of her, but they are paid substantially more.

Only three other women earn in the $30,000 range in Plain. 

This group of women are in the rock-bottom tier of pay for Plain Township full-time employees.

One of the rejoinders of some readers of this blog is that many of Plain's employees are firefighters and that being a firefighter is not suitable employment for women.

To which the SCPR responds, balderdash!

Very little if any factor in the overall question of whether or not women are suited to be firefighters, policepersons on any other "traditional" male-centered occupations have to do with physical ability to do the job.

The major factors are cultural-centered biases.

Historically in America, women have done just fine as firefighters when provided an opportunity or they have seized the initiative on their own.

Here is some history:

The first known female firefighter of the United States was a slave from New York named Molly Williams, who was said to be "as good a fire laddie as many of the boys," and fought fires during the early 1800s. ...

In the 1820s, Marina Betts was a volunteer firefighter in Pittsburgh. ...

Lillie Hitchcock was made an honorary member of the Knickerbocker Engine Company, No. 5., in San Francisco in 1863, and fought fires for some years after.

In the 1910s, there were women's volunteer fire companies in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Los Angeles, California. ...

In 1936 Emma Vernell became the first official female firefighter in New Jersey. ...

During World War II some women served as firefighters in the United States to replace firemen who joined the military; indeed, during part of the war two fire departments in Illinois were all-female. ... 

In 1942 the first all-female forest firefighting crew in California was created. ...

There were all-female fire companies in Kings County, California, and Woodbine, Texas, in the 1960s.

In 1971 an all-female BLM (Bureau of Land Management) firefighting crew fought fires in the wilds of Alaska during the summer of 1971, and an all-female U.S. Forest Service firefighting crew fought fires in 1971 and 1972 in Montana. ...

The first known female fire chief in the U.S. was Ruth E. Capello. Ruth Capello was born in 1922 and became fire chief of the Butte Falls fire department in Butte Falls, Oregon in 1973. She died at the age of 70 in 1992. ...

Sandra Forcier, the first known paid female firefighter (excluding forest firefighting) in the U.S., began working in North Carolina in 1973; she was a Public Safety Officer, a combination of police officer and firefighter. ...

The first woman to work solely as a paid firefighter (excluding forest firefighting) was Judith Livers, hired by the Arlington County, Virginia, fire department in 1974. ...

The first female head of a career fire department, Chief Rosemary Bliss in Tiburon, California, became fire chief in 1993. ...

One of the concerns on physical ability has to do with the handling of hoses. 

From a Wikepedia article:

According to the publication LA Weekly, "Firefighters pull heavy lengths of hose, climb stairs while wielding giant power tools like chain saws, and lift 180-pound, 35-foot wooden ladders... Firefighters' physicians say that a human expected to pull the heaviest hose lines must weigh at least 143 pounds," and some women go through extensive training, sometimes paid for by the hiring municipality, prior to beginning actual training in a firefighting academy ... .

The short and the skinny of it is that hiding behind the notion that firefighting is "men's work" is utter nonsense.

For Plain Township or any other Stark County political subdivision to perpetuate the myth is an outrage on the 51.5% (52.3% in Plain) of taxpaying women who constitute the Stark County population.

For Plain to being doing worse than Jackson Township on gender equity issues is interesting.

Jackson is probably the Stark County bastion of the Republican Party which is not particularly well known for its looking after minority rights.

Plain, on the other hand, has Democratic leadership and while not like Canton in the overwhelming predominance of Democrats in its population, it certainly is predominantly Democratic in voter registration.

And many, if not most, Democratic officials like to think they stand more for minority rights (women are classified as being a minority in U.S. law) than Republicans.

So what is going on in Plain?

5.5% women in employment compared to Jackson's 13.5%.

While both are a disgrace, it is very telling on Plain officials that the Plain led by Democrats Giavasis and Leno are outpaced by Jackson's Republican (Hawke and Walters) leadership.

So much for the rhetoric, no?

The SCPR is pleased in this series to bring to the attention of Stark Countians the degree to which Stark County government abides unfair treatment of the county's women.

Such does beg the question:

How long are Stark/Jackson/Plain women going to abide their public officials abiding gender inequity?

Perhaps Stark's women should be thinking in terms of developing some political muscle for themselves.

For it appears that political connections and oomph can be very effective!

The SCPR is on volume 13 of this series on gender equity in Stark County/political subdivision government.

Here are links to the prior blogs:

• Volume 1, April 21, 2014
• Volume 2, April 28, 2014
• Volume 3, May 5, 2014
• Volume 4, May 12, 2014
• Volume 5, May 19, 2014
• Volume 6, May 27, 2014
• Volume 7, June 2, 2014
• Volume 8, June 9, 2014
• Volume 9, June 16, 2014
• Volume 10, August 20, 2014 
• Volume 11, August 25, 2014 
• Volume 12, September 10, 2014

DISCORD IN PLAIN TOWNSHIP: TRUSTEES - DEMOCRAT GIAVASIS & REPUBLICAN HAWS VIE OVER PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS. A CASE OF DEMOCRATS BEING PRO-UNION & REPUBLICANS BEING ANTI-UNION?

UPDATE:  10/27/2010 AT 9:30 AM


FROM PLAIN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE LOUIS GIAVASIS

Martin, I read your blog this morning and only one important thing in my opinion is the fact this type of agreement does not effect labor costs. All Public projects must be bid at prevailing wage! Union or Non Union. It does not subject non union contractors to pay union wages because prevailing wage is prevailing wage and both sides have an equal opportunity to get work.  Again, it is my opinion that this type of agreement will allow Plain Township specify that the labor force is local PERIOD! Why in the world in todays economic climate would we spend local tax dollars and send those tax dollars away from Stark County to an out of county or state contractor.  We have a responibility when we use our tax payers dollars to put our local work force to work first so those dollars come back to the area.

This discussion took place over several weeks, it was not something that was brought up that night and just passed, I feel it is my responsibility as an elected leader to make sure that the lion's share of our tax dollars on these projects stay local and help our local economy, not some other counties. 


ORIGINAL BLOG


Republican Plain Township Trustee Scott Haws says that Democrats Louis Giavasis and Al Leno jammed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) biasing the township in favor of unions at the expense of Plain's taxpayers was done at the October 12th meeting of trustees.

Giavasis responds that the "jamming down" is utter nonsense and what's more Project Labor Agreements save taxpayer money.

To the SCPR, the truth of the matter is that both pro-union forces (usually Democrats who get favored with union campaign financing) and anti-union groups (usually Republicans who are predominantly favored by campaign contributions of contractors and businesses generally) are trying to tilt the public sector towards the side that favors them.

Recently, the Stark County passed a PLA resolution.  Guess what?  All three commissioners are Democrats.  Go figure, no?

Moreover, Canton city government (controlled by Democrats [only one elected Republican - Mark Butterworth/Ward 8]) has entered into a PLA for construction of it new fire station at 25th & Cleveland Avenue.

PLA's could become a new battleground of squabbling between Republicans and Democrats as it is likely that more Republicans will be elected to countywide office next week (Janet Creighton as commissioner, for one) and therefore in a position to contest the passing of resolutions mandating PLAs for new construction projects.

Plain township does not presently have a PLA in place, so why the need to pass a PLA resolution as Plain Trustees did on October 12th?

Trustee Giavasis tells the SCPR that the PLA resolution does not bind the township to implement a PLAs.  

Moreover, there is no financial/economic-based answer to this question.

It is sheer politics in the estimation of The Report.  Stark County unions have been pushing PLAs as a matter of policy with Stark County local government units in those venues in which Democrats control.

As Plain Township has been mulling over PLA legislation, union representatives have been showing up at meetings.  Such is also true prior to the county commissioners passing a similar resolution.

Apparently, the union thinking is to get the legislation in place and then as contracts come up to push for utilization of the PLA process on each and every contract.  The goal likely is to create a legal history of using PLAs and then if and when Republicans come to dominate a given unit of local government, they will be hard pressed to defy legal precedent of using the PLAs.  Local governments generally afflicted with the "that's the way we have always done things" mentality.  Unions know this and seem to be exercising foresight to advantage themselves.

The fact that is unions who push for PLAs must mean that they see an advantage in having them.

If, when entities like the Plain trustee and the Stark Commissioners or Canton City Council, a balanced group of contractor/business representatives and union representatives showed up in support of a PLA resolution/legislation, then one could buy the notion that such legislation is interest group neutral.

Trustee Giavasis attacks the Nimishillen Township trustees in his reply to The Report for building its newest fire station without the benefit of a PLA, to wit:

Martin, I feel this type of agreement will put our local contractors to work first, we can specify what percentage must be local, what percentage is union and no union, it prevents cost over runs and it will prevent the same or like financial and construction disaster Nimishillan (sic) Township experienced with their recently constructed fire station. Not only will it prevent the high cost over runs it may prevent the costly litigation they expended to have their problems fixed with that building. We owe it to our tax payers to have the highest quality workmanship and at the most cost effective rate that prevent additional expenses as what happened in Nimishillan (sic) Township ... .

What follows is a chart of the differences between Plain Township Trustees Giavasis and Haws:

As far as the SCPR is concerned, PLAs could be a good thing provided that business (management) and the workforce (unions) would come together and agree on a format and substance (in general) that both benefit from.  In other words, a win-win situation.

There is a mythology in America that "all I want is a fair chance."

The Report wishes such was the case.  But it is not.

In the cases of PLAs unions are trying to advantage themselves over management.

In fighting PLAs outright, rather than sitting down with representatives of organized labor to achieve win-win model PLAs; management is trying to keep in place perceived advantages in not have broad working agreements.

If both groups really cared about the well-being of taxpayers, they would hammer out a template that becomes a win for the working force, a win for business and management and, most importantly of all - A WIN FOR THE TAXPAYER!

DISCUSSION: ANOTHER STARK CO TOWNSHIP IN A TUSSLE WITH EMPLOYEE, IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE TOWNSHIP WATER? TUSCARAWAS, LAKE, MARLBORO & NIMISHILLEN

Things are not going well with Stark County Boards of Trustees over the space of the last several years.

Not long ago Tuscarawas Township trustees fired a couple of Road Department employees for fighting on the job and the township is now in a litigation mode vis-a-vis those employees (so far, losing).

A few years ago Lake Township Trustee Ellis Erb stirred up a hornet's nest with guess who? Yes, Road Department employees with allegations of abusive language but more so with administrative types with Township Administrator Carolyn Casey accusing Erb with employee harassment.

In early January (the 6th), we had the Marlboro Township trustees (at least Trustees Wise and Wolf) going off the deep end. They decided to put highly respected Police Chief Ron Devies on "paid administrative leave." Here it is nearly two months later and no results from the investigation. Investigation into what. Nobody seems to know.

Last week, Plain Township trustees got into fuss (but not with employees; rather each other) over the refusal (up until that meeting) of Trustee Pam Bossart since the beginning of 2009 to make motions or second motions.

Now it's Nimishillen Township's turn.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) recently obtained a copy of a State Relations Employment Board (SERB) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decision on an "unfair labor practice" charge filed by former Road Department Superintendent Chris Peterson against Nimishillen Township.

The finding, if affirmed by the SERB board and appellate courts (assuming the Township will file appeals), could cost the township taxpayers in excess of $100,000.

And who is responsible for

The following except from the ALJ decision summarizes the case, to wit:


Chris Peterson, (brother of Nimishillen Twp Fire Chief Rich Peterson) according to the judge's decision has been employed in various fire department capacities for 27 years as well as Road Department Superintendent from January 27, 2006 through November 9, 2006 - when he was fired by the votes of Lynch and Lisa Shafer with then Trustee Todd Bosley voting no. Bosley is now a Stark County commissioner.

Judge Jewell singled out Trustee Michael Lynch as the culpable trustee in generating the "unfair labor practice."

Here is language from the ALJ decision focusing on Lynch:

In the end here is what it will cost Nimishellin Township, if they cannot turn around this decision. Again, from the ALJ decision:
A reliable public official, who is close to the Nimishillen Township political situation, says that this fuax-pas together with others, make Lynch (a Republican) and Shafer (a Democrat) unelectable come November. But the source did indicate that Lynch probably will not run again.

Some readers may remember Shafer for her "Boycott Louisville" move a couple of years ago. Couldn't be thought out very well, since a number of Nimshillen Township residents work - guess where? Yes!, Louisville.

So far, former township trustee Russ Goffus has taken out a petition as has Brenda M. Jorday.

GRAPHIC EDITORIAL: PLAIN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES ACTING LIKE CHILDREN?