Union leaders take initiative with new administration

Dec. 19, 2006 - More than one hundred OCSEA leaders gathered Saturday, Dec. 16, in Columbus to discuss ideas and concerns related to changes that might occur under Governor-elect Ted Strickland and other statewide elected officials.

A delegate from the Strickland transition team, Michael Jung, attended part of the session and told the crowd that the new administration wants to hear from OCSEA “what works and what doesn’t in state agencies.”

Participants, working in groups organized around each state agency or office, prepared reports for the Administration that provided information on budgetary issues, service challenges, labor-management relationships, staffing levels and unclassified employees.

While union leaders are optimistic about maintaining good relations with the new governor, OCSEA’s Government Affairs Director Kim Fellinger warned that Strickland could be hampered by opponents in the state legislature.

“We will be close to having a bi-partisan majority that supports our concerns, but some legislators will still be trying to tie the governor’s hands especially at budget time.”

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