HPI awards presented to eight chapters

April 21, 2008 - OCSEA leaders and activists who gathered for the Building Union Power conference on April 19 celebrated outstanding achievements of subordinate bodies.

OCSEA presented High Performance Awards to eight chapters that were recognized this year in the following categories:

1. Internal Organizing
2. Coalition Building
3. Communications
4. Administration

Subordinate body applicants were required to show they build union power, have measurable benefits to the membership, and improve subordinate body performance.

 Internal Organizing:
BMV Chapter 2503 and Main 2505 Chapter
The leaders of the chapters used a Strickland administration program as an opportunity to recruit new union activists.

When the Department of Public Safety was selected as one of three agencies to be a pilot for the new Efficiency Review and Continuous Improvement Initiative, the chapters worked together to develop and distribute a survey to their members to solicit participation on the DPS Agency Review Team.

Fifteen members applied for one of three slots on the team.

Although the list had to be narrowed down to the three finalists, the chapters were able to identify a pool of potential activist who will be used in ART-related projects and other chapter activities.

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MERPC Chapter 5730
It’s consistently had high membership levels, but this chapter gained recognition for getting 100 percent of the bargaining unit at the facility to belong to the union.

The chapter reached perfection by strong follow through with each of the five prior fair share members.

The best opportunity to reach them was during new employee orientation where Chief Steward George Beard would give a 30-minute briefing on OCSEA’s mission, history and benefits.

The chapter then made sure that the new hires immediately signed membership cards.

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 Coalition Building:
Mahoning Chapter 5000
In 2007, chapter officers and executive board members showed their union pride in an OCSEA decorated truck in the Trumbull County Labor Parade in Niles. Approximately 25 different labor organizations participated including the UAW, the AFL-CIO and various trade unions. The chapter also distributed 7,500 pieces of literature to people lining the parade route. The net result was that the chapter made dozens of personal contacts with the other unions.

 Communications:
Chapter 1804
Union members now have access to a wealth of information because of an interactive website, chapter1804.com, the chapter created.

The site posts notices for and directions to chapter, district council and ODOT assembly meetings as well as training opportunities and union conferences.

Members can also access meeting minutes and treasurer reports from subordinate bodies.

A flowchart of the union hierarchy is available to explain OCSEA’s structure.

Members also have the ability through the site to email questions or information to their chapter officers.

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Hilltop Chapter 2509
Regular communications has been the focus for the chapter. This includes holding regular and predictable monthly meetings, posting notices and documents, and sending flyers and union-related material to members.

Two results are that members are doing better at managing their sick leave and properly utilizing FMLA.

They have also been working to spread responsibility and knowledge among their members, teaching them about each of the steps of the grievance process.

The net result is that members are more confident in their chapter leaders.

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Education Chapter 2565
The chapter has made breakthroughs with getting information out to all members about both local and statewide union activities.

A quarterly newsletter has been reestablished with articles from officers and committee chairs, plus they are encouraging our members to offer information, post an ad or brag about a development in their life. The newsletter is hand delivered to each member.

Likewise, the chapter is keeping its bulletin board full of fresh material and doing monthly “chair drops” to attract members attention.

The chapter has become adept at developing its own colorful flyers plus using documents from OCSEA’s Union Bulletin Board Network.

New employee orientation gives the chapter the opportunity to provide background on the union’s activities and to show new staffers where to look for union information.

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 Administration: 
ManCI Chapter 7010
The chapter makes strong use of the labor-management committee to gain improvements on the relief-by-seniority. Under an agreement okayed by the committee, the chapter’s stewards conduct quarterly canvasses where correction officers can choose their daily post.

This has created a major reduction in the number of grievances and complaints about favoritism.

Each time a quarterly canvass has occurred, the chapter has also been able to make improvements in how it’s executed and reduce the amount of time it takes.

The chapter has also been successful in using the labor-management committee to improve safety at the prison.

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Photo Gallery

Album 1 : Weekend Highlights from BUP 8

Album 2: Friday Evening's Come Together Reception

Album 3: Saturday Morning - General Session

Album 4: Saturday Afternoon - Workshops

Album 5: Saturday Evening - Solidarity Dinner, HPI Awards and Auction Raffle

See Related

Full Story - Building Union Power 8 event mobilizes members, provides tools for change

First-ever PEOPLE auction successful, held at BUP 8

Agenda

Workshop Descriptions