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 marks a significant development for the approximately 30 workers represented by IAM at four diocesan cemeteries.
Robert Towslee, IAM Local 1363 Business Representative, stated, “This agreement represents not only improved terms, but also the beginning of a renewed commitment to job responsibilities, accountability, and employment security.”
Negotiations took place over 16 months and included periods of disagreement and external anti-union efforts. Timothy Verlinden, IAM Local 1363 Directing Business Representative, said, “While the process included moments of disagreement and outside anti-union efforts, we remained steadfast and focused on our shared goals. Together, we achieved fair resolutions on wages, benefits, time-off accruals, and holidays.”
The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown serves more than 117,000 Catholics across 67 parishes and one mission in northeast Ohio. It also oversees education for over 17,000 children in its 30 schools.
The new contract includes wage increases ranging from 35% to 3%, depending on workers’ roles and current pay rates. Employees will receive 13 fully paid holidays each year under the agreement. In addition to preserving existing benefits such as personal days, sick leave, vacation accruals, and retirement benefits, the deal establishes a joint health and safety committee composed of company representatives and workers.
David Sullivan, IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President commented on the significance of this first contract: “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,” he said. “We look forward to more justice on the job for themselves and their families, and more job growth through unionism in the future.”
