Bargaining Council meets July 12
Representatives to elect team, set priorities based on survey results, and identify mobilization strategies

May 13, 2008 - While the exchange of contract proposals between OCSEA and the State of Ohio is six months off, a great deal of the union's preparation work is now underway.

On Saturday, July 12, 2008, a meeting of the Bargaining Council will be held to elect the 18-member OCSEA negotiating team.

In addition, this group of 450 representatives will set initial bargaining priorities based on membership survey results and explore ways to mobilize rank and file members in support of OCSEA's bargaining efforts. 

This Bargaining Council meeting closely follows the June 21 Bargaining Advisory Committee—made of the board of directors as well as district council and assembly presidents—meeting where leaders will give input and review membership feedback.

A letter and registration form was mailed today to all subordinate body presidents, who must return the completed forms on behalf of each local president and any additional delegates. See above.

The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Worthington at 178 Hutchinson Avenue (near I-270 and High Street).  The phone number at the Doubletree is 1-614-885-3334.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program will commence at 9:30 a.m.

Who Can Vote on July 12, 2008?

The formula for determining who is eligible to serve as a representative at the Bargaining Council is the same as the convention delegate formula.

The OCSEA Constitution provides that each chapter is entitled to at least two representatives—one of which is the chapter president—and an additional representative for each 100 chapter members. 

For example, if a chapter has 103 members, it is entitled to 3 representatives; the two who are automatic for each chapter and an additional representative because the chapter has 100 or more members. Chapters that have fewer than 100 members receive just the two automatic representatives.

In addition, all members of the OCSEA Board of Directors, all Assembly and District Council Presidents also serve as representatives of the Bargaining Council.

Because Bargaining Council representatives are not elected officials, the Constitution leaves it up to the chapter to determine how it selects its representative(s). This means that the chapter can hold an election or the chapter president can make the appointments.

See Related

Bargaining Advisory Committee to meet after June board meeting 

Bargaining surveys mailed to membership; View, download response form