In a move that could reshape how Geauga County handles its behind-the-scenes tech work, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) employees have filed a petition asking the State Employment Relations Board to hold a union representation election. The proposed unit would cover most full‑time and regular part‑time ADP staff, an estimated 21 employees, with workers saying they want to protect jobs and stabilize funding for core county IT services.
What workers say
According to Cleveland.com, Ohio Council 8 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed the petition with SERB on behalf of ADP staff. The filing notes there is no current collective‑bargaining agreement for ADP employees and includes a letter where workers write that they "strongly value the professionalism, direction, and stability provided by ADP’s management team," while also warning that repeated external pressures and ongoing public budget scrutiny have created long‑term funding concerns.
Budget fights spilled into public meetings
The petition follows months of very public sparring between county officials and ADP leadership over payroll and spending. Local coverage detailed a heated exchange among commissioners in December over ADP salary increases, overtime, and payroll funding levels, the Geauga County Maple Leaf reported.
Board response and next steps
After the petition landed, the ADP board called an emergency meeting to review the situation and voted to hire a consultant to advise on the unionization process, according to Cleveland.com. Commissioner Carolyn Brakey told the outlet she believes unionization will likely increase costs to taxpayers, while other officials pushed back on claims that ADP had blown past its salary budget.
How the election works
The petition now enters the State Employment Relations Board process, where SERB reviews the proposed bargaining unit and can order a secret‑ballot election to decide representation. In SERB‑run elections, a union is certified as the exclusive representative if it wins a majority of ballots cast, and timelines can vary. The board oversees mail ballots and tabulation, Ohio University's guide to SERB elections notes.
What ADP does and what's at stake
ADP handles IT, records, and cybersecurity support for dozens of county offices and local political subdivisions, and county officials have stressed that changes to its funding could ripple through those services. The Geauga County auditor's office recently highlighted ADP's role and noted that the department received a cybersecurity grant, according to a county press release from the Geauga County Auditor's office.
What to watch next
Employees and county leaders are now waiting on SERB's initial review. If an election is ordered and a majority of participating workers vote for representation, that outcome could change how ADP positions are staffed, paid, and budgeted. The decision is expected to influence not only Geauga County's IT operations but also the wider local debate over how to fund essential technology and cybersecurity services.
