Ex-Justice Douglas leaves post as head of state worker union

4/28/2009

COLUMBUS - Andy Douglas, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice from Toledo, is out as executive director of the largest union representing state employees.

Mr. Douglas, 76, called the move a negotiated departure from the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. He said he will return to Crabbe, Brown & James, the Columbus law firm where he worked before moving to the union in 2004.

"I really have enjoyed the last five years serving our members," Mr. Douglas said.

The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association represents about 25,000 state employees. The union just finished negotiating a contract with the state that calls for no pay increases over the next three years and mandatory 10-day furloughs in the first two years.

Mr. Douglas announced his resignation from the union position two years ago but changed his mind after getting a vote of confidence from the board of directors.

At the time, it was reported that he had met with members of Toledo City Council to discuss becoming city law director.

Mr. Douglas, a Republican, was a member of Toledo City Council from 1961 to 1980.

He was on the Ohio Supreme Court from 1985 until 2002. He served on the 6th District Court of Appeals from 1980-84.