News Release

For immediate release: Feb. 28, 2006

Contact: Peter Wray
614-865-2606 or 614-906-1049
pwray@ocsea.org                              

Members give nod to new state employee contract

COLUMBUS – The largest state employees union announced today that its members voted by a two-to-one margin to accept a new three-year contract containing pay raise provisions that mark a sharp contrast to one reluctantly agreed to in 2003.

More than 60 percent of the members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association participated in the balloting that concluded early this afternoon. The vote permits the implementation of a fact finder’s wage recommendation plus numerous tentative agreements previously hammered out by union and state officials.

Earlier this month, a fact finder recommended wage increases of 3 percent in July 2006, 3.5 percent in 2007 and 3.5 percent in 2008.

“This is a positive departure from our last contract where we were forced to go without any raise for two years,” said Andy Douglas, OCSEA’s Executive Director and chief negotiator. “Our negotiating team believes that these increases will help offset past losses. And, while less than we sought, the raises will exceed anticipated increases in inflation.

“State officials often talk about having a dedicated, efficient and committed workforce,” Douglas continued. “This contract, at least in part, acknowledges the advances in efficiencies of state employees.”

Union members were also pleased that the new contract holds the line on the cost of many health care components and even offers several improvements. “Our share of the health care premium will remain unchanged, as will the costs of generic prescriptions,” said OCSEA President Ronald C. Alexander. “We also negotiated improvements in preventive screenings and full coverage for diabetic supplies.”

Oversight of the employee’s health care benefit is done through a joint labor-management committee and Alexander attributed the gains in this arena to the committee’s good work. “Our wise stewardship of the health care plan, coupled with tough bargaining with health care providers, has allowed us to forestall many of the health increases being experienced in other sectors,” said Alexander.

He also noted that sound fiscal health of his members’ health care plan would allow a premium “holiday” – a month where no premium is due – in both 2006 and 2007.

Douglas said that the union made other gains in employees’ promotional and layoff rights, travel and hotel reimbursements, and military leave, but he also acknowledged that management’s negotiators had also succeeded in trimming the disability benefits for state employees.

The current contract expires at midnight tonight and the new agreement will take its place.

OCSEA represents nearly 35,000 state employees who work in a wide range of security, safety, construction, regulatory, clerical, professional and client-care positions. The union is an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

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