DYS union members in Circleville launch union letter-writing campaign, urge legislators to support federal bailout for Ohio

Jan. 6, 2009 - Yesterday, more than 30 union activists at the Circleville Department of Youth facility (Chap. 6555) sent letters addressed to Sen. George Voinovich asking him to support a federal bailout package that would help deficit-ridden states like Ohio.

(Above) Annie Person, OCSEA State Board of Directors and president of Chap. 6555, stands available as a member completes a voluntary contribution card to support PEOPLE. He also wrote a letter to Sen. Voinovich.

The union is winding up for a massive letter-writing campaign to Sen. George Voinovich and key members of Congress to request their help in getting aid to Ohio that would help compensate for huge revenue losses.

OCSEA Pres. Eddie L. Parks recently wrote to members, "With this projected shortfall [$7.3 billion], we want to avoid the drastic cuts to important services and preserve the jobs of the public employees that provide them.

"For this reason, OCSEA and AFSCME are launching a major effort to persuade congress to provide some direct aid to the states."

The budget gap is so wide, a worse case scenario document shows the state would have to close 12 facilities and lay off thousands of state workers to make up the difference.

OCSEA Chap. 6555 Pres. and Board member Annie Person and OCSEA PEOPLE liaison Ivan Stithem helped get 30 letters and 16 PEOPLE cards signed in just the morning.

See sample legislator letter text below.

Dear Senator:

Ohio is seeing some of the toughest times we have seen since the Great Depression. 

Our state’s unemployment rate has increased dramatically and demand for Medicaid grows as people lose their jobs and job-based health coverage and incomes decline.  Ohioans are also turning to state and local governments for needed services to help them pay bills, feed their families and get a job.  This rise in demand is occurring just as Ohio is seeing its revenues fall hard and fast, which has created mid-year budget shortfalls.  

Our economic crisis needs a national response.  We need federal aid to state and local governments to help us weather this crisis and we hope that you will fight for it.

Can we count on your support for an economic recovery package that helps Ohio avoid deep cuts in Medicaid and vital public services that we all depend on?

Sincerely,

What is PEOPLE? OCSEA members make their voices heard in the Statehouse and on Capitol Hill on issues like state budget cuts and employment services funding by joining PEOPLE, Public Employees Organized for Political and Legislative Equality.

PEOPLE is AFSCME's political action committee and uses voluntary contributions (no union dues) to promote issues and candidates that benefit public employee union members and their families.

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