Ohio lawmakers press Bellefaire JCB and Wingspan to restore union recognition

Northeast Ohio state Rep. Eric Synenberg, who represents Ohio House District 21, has joined 28 other Ohio House Democrats in urging Wingspan Care Group and Bellefaire JCB to restore SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH as the bargaining representative for Bellefaire workers.

Wingspan, which includes Bellefaire as an affiliate partner, ended its recognition of the union effective Oct. 1, 2025. Restoring recognition would allow SEIU to resume formally representing covered employees and return the parties to contract negotiations.

The Ohio House announcement of Synenberg’s support was published Sept. 10, 2026 — roughly 10 months after the lawmakers’ letter was dated Nov. 7, 2025.

A call to bargain

The letter to Bellefaire’s leadership and board of directors, sent through Wingspan, carried the subject line “Respect Bellefaire Workers—Recognize Their Union and Bargain in Good Faith.”

The lawmakers asked the organizations to avoid communications or actions that could interfere with workers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act. They also called for renewed negotiations toward a contract.

“Bellefaire JCB and its workers provide invaluable services to families across Northeast Ohio,” Synenberg said. “Their impact is immeasurable, and these dedicated professionals deserve fair and rightful representation. I urge both parties to return to the bargaining table and restore good-faith negotiations so this critical work can continue without disruption.”

A voice in care work

Bellefaire’s programs and services include school-based counseling, crisis care navigation and residential treatment for children and adolescents. Its residential workers provide round-the-clock care for young people with mental-health, attachment, substance-use or autism-related needs.

The National Labor Relations Board case lists 265 involved employees. Earlier reporting by The Chronicle-Telegram estimated that more than 300 workers were affected, including 15 to 20 in Lorain; the figures differ because one is the employee count in the federal case and the other was an earlier estimate of the broader workforce affected.

Michael Wood, lead administrative organizer for SEIU District 1199, told The Chronicle-Telegram that formal recognition gives those employees a voice over their working conditions.

“They deserve a voice in their workplace,” Wood said. “Without union representation, Bellefaire’s staff have no rights on their job and they are ‘beholden to management for everything,’” he said.

The union also held informational pickets during the dispute. SEIU organizer Bryce Dawson said the union followed federal notice requirements: “We have always held informational pickets following notice to the organization -- as required by the NLRA.”

Why Wingspan withdrew

Before the lawmakers sent their letter, Wingspan spokesperson Beth Cohen Pollack told The Chronicle-Telegram: “We informed the Service Employees International Union district 1199 that we would no longer recognize the union, effective Oct. 1.”

Wingspan cited federal court and NLRB regional-director rulings involving religious nonprofits as support for its decision. Pollack said the organization preferred dealing directly with employees rather than through SEIU.

“We believe a direct relationship with our employees will result in a stronger workplace as we continue to support the children and families in our community,” she said.

The union continued to challenge that religious-exemption position through August 2026, after months of informational pickets and disagreement over representation, according to Cleveland.com.

Where the dispute stands

SEIU filed NLRB Case 08-UC-385855, an open unit-clarification case involving Bellefaire, on April 24, 2026. The case remains open without a final decision on the merits, so Wingspan’s religious-exemption argument remains its legal position rather than a final federal determination.

That proceeding is separate from the lawmakers’ request that Wingspan voluntarily restore recognition and bargain with SEIU. The pending case itself has not returned the union to the table.

As things stand, SEIU does not hold the formal bargaining role for Bellefaire workers that Synenberg and the other House Democrats want restored. A change would require Wingspan to reverse its decision or the federal process to alter the workers’ representation status.