Ohio's State Employment Relations Board (SERB) has 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 of Youngstown. 

The ruling comes during Mayor Jamael Tito Brown's final month as the city's mayor. The fire union issued a news release following the decision, stating the verdict is clear and decisive in concluding that, "the outgoing administration engaged in repeated violations of established laws and procedures."

"This decision stands as a formal validation of IAFF Local 312 and its membership, whose position has been fully affirmed through the legal system," Christopher M. Weaver, president of the union, stated.

The charge stemmed from a meeting between Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley and then fire union representatives Jon Racco and Jordan Thomas. During this meeting, Finley was accused of using racially charged language against Racco and Thomas. The report also said Brown ratified Chief Finley's conduct when he sided with him publicly, in the media.

Following the meeting, the union also stated in a letter that Brown and city Law Director, Lori Shells Simmons both agreed racial discrimination claims were the fault of years of issues with the union and stated that the union had been "publicly vilified and defamed" with false allegations. However, Brown and Shells Simmons have refuted this, saying they never said that and were trying to explain that the union's actions had been insubordinate to the chief. 

The fire union alleged the city violated the Ohio Revised Code and engaged in unfair labor practices by:

  • Interfering with, restraining and coercing the union when it attempted to intimidate them
  • Making false and derogatory statements about union leadership
  • Baselessly accusing union leaders of racism and refusing to bargain with the union regarding the effects of the EMS training courses on the member's terms and conditions of employment.

In a 10 page response, SERB ruled the city of Youngstown and Finley violated the Ohio Revised code, "by yelling, name calling, race-baiting, and making a physically threatening gesture toward Union leaders..." 

The ruling continues the city "...further violated the law when the Mayor of Youngstown publicly labeled the two union leaders as being racist for engaging in lawful actions...when (the mayor) condoned Chief Finley's conduct and ratified his views in the media. More likely than not, this led to negative characterization of Captains Racco and Thomas..." and caused "reputational harm" to Racco and Thomas' "good names." 

The report also states the city refused to bargain over EMT matters and that this topic "is a mandatory subject of bargaining," but "Chief Finley further stated that he didn’t have to bargain anything about the EMT class because it was voluntary. Chief Finley was yelling his comments and stood up across the table in a manner reasonably perceived to create an apprehension of assault. It took two deputy law directors to get the Chief to leave the room. This demonstrates that the Chief lost emotional self-control, without legal provocation, during a legitimate collective bargaining meeting." 

The report continues, "Neither Racco nor Jordan ran for reelection to their Union officer positions due in substantial part to reasonably perceived reputational harm from media coverage of the dispute exacerbated by the Mayor’s comments." 

SERB found that the city "...did not attempt to dominate or interfere with the administration of the union as an employee organization."

Chief Finley declined to comment and a representative of the city said, "We have received the board's ruling and are carefully reviewing it. We do not have additional comments at this time."

The board recommends meetings to be conducted in an orderly fashion in the future, "to bargain the effects of the EMT class offering, and to reinstate the EMT class," and that the city "post the attached NOTICE in all the usual and customary posting locations where bargaining unit employees work," as a remedy for the mayor's public comments against the union.

In July 2025, SERB ruled there was probable cause that the city of Youngstown committed an unfair labor practice. 

Following the December 2025 ruling, the union stated there has been a substantial financial burden upon taxpayers and their membership as a "direct result of the administration's ongoing hostility and improper conduct," while also stating that they will remain optimistic.

"Local 312 has consistently maintained that these issues could have been avoided entirely had the Chief and the Administration elected to comply with proper producers and labor laws," the news release continued. "The judges' ruling unmistakably reflects the consequences of those choices."

The union is looking forward to working with the city's incoming administration.