TALKING POINTS
Federal revisions threaten state employment service staff, pave way for more privatization

Jan. 17, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rule changes that will allow for the privatization of state employment services at One-Stops. OCSEA members should be on high alert as this could impact nearly 250 ODJFS civil service employees who currently work in Ohio’s One-Stops.

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 1.  SKILLED WORKFORCE Civil service employees who perform employment services are highly skilled and serve diverse populations. Their institutional knowledge is an asset to Ohio and a necessity to underemployed and unemployed Ohioans.

In addition to working directly with the jobless, they maintain professional relationships with local employers. Currently, the counties have no track record in providing employment services mandated under Wagner-Peyser, including serving targeted groups (i.e., veterans, the disabled, dislocated workers).

 2.  ACCOUNTABILITY Keeping these services under state controls ensures greater accountability to Ohio taxpayers. The state controls and monitors how funds are spent, manages and holds accountable employees providing those services, and maintains that federal and state employment service mandates are met.

 3.  DISCOURAGES CORRUPTION Civil service law has made cronyism a thing of the past. By maintaining civil service employees in employment service jobs, you’re ensuring that those employees are hired, fired and performing duties on the basis of objective criteria – not for political or personal reasons.

 4.  STATEWIDE SYSTEM Every county does business differently. A state-run, civil service employee employment system would ensure stability and consistency for underemployed and unemployed Ohioans.

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