The strike is off.

Ever since a work stoppage in the City of Ironton was first voted on last month, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 771 union has maintained that it has the city's best interests at heart. Union members feel they proved it Thursday by voting 22-2 against hitting the picket lines Monday as was originally planned.

"We will not be going on strike. We are not doing it for the council. We are not doing it for the mayor. We are doing it for the citizens of Ironton," said union member Todd Davis. "If council won't do the right thing, we will.

"I can walk around with my head held high. They (council) can't. It is something they will have to live with."

The 51-member union includes employees in the city's street, sanitation, flood, water and sewer departments, police dispatchers, the income tax and water collection office and the meter maid. Though the lack of a 25-cent raise was the official reason, the union was concerned about job security after the May 1 layoffs of 10 municipal employees that included eight AFSCME workers - three in the sanitation department, three in the street department, one of the water department clerks and a custodian.

After Thursday's vote, the union has agreed to accept no pay increase and no change in health care costs. Davis said he does not expect the strike to even be considered again until at least February when the union's contract is up for negotiation and maybe not even then.

"Elated" was the way Mayor John Elam summed up his reaction.

"I am really glad the union has chosen to continue to provide services to the city of Ironton. I think it shows their commitment to the town," Elam said. "I am proud of our workforce and look forward to working with them and keeping open channels of communication."

Councilman Jesse Roberts said he and several other councilmen he had spoken with were pleased to hear the news.

"I have always respected the city workers. Their opinions and mine may be far and wide, as far as some things go, but I do respect them," he said. "They do a heck of a job. A strike doesn't help anybody. I am glad to see them put the citizens first."

Both the mayor and union members agreed that residents will see a decreased level of services that include garbage collection, street repairs and other projects while the city tries to find ways to operate more efficiently with a decreased workforce.

While not the only service affected, sanitation is probably the most visible. Currently, garbage collection is about four days behind, Davis said.

"If they don't bring our people back, (residents) can expect less in services," Davis said. "You can't take two guys and do 10 guys' work."

Mayor Elam asked that residents be patient as they look for ways to operate the city efficiently, but he emphasized that now he will be able to direct all his efforts on working towards a brighter future.

"It enables me to put a positive focus on a new direction for the city rather than continue to make contingency plans for what-if scenarios," Elam said. The mayor went on to add that he would still like to look at ways to generate revenue and potentially bring back some of the displaced workers.