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Join Chapter 2570 for Statehouse action day; Help laid-off OCSEA members get jobs back

Stop efforts to displace laid-off public employees with inmates by generating public awareness, gathering petition signatures

 Statehouse - Wed., May 20, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

May 7, 2008 - In recent months, cuts to the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) budget have resulted in the layoff of numerous OCSEA members who performed custodial, grounds keeping and other duties at the Statehouse.

Now, the board's executive director is proposing the implementation of an inmate work release program to replace laid off OCSEA bargaining unit employees. In response, OCSEA has filed a grievance, contacted state officials with union concerns, and planned a petition gathering event to generate public awareness and urge legistors to derail the plan.

OCSEA Chapter 2570 leaders have organized a Take Action Lunch Hour at the Statehouse to help stop a plan that would use an inmate work release program to replace laid off OCSEA bargaining unit employees who maintain the Statehouse.

OCSEA leaders are inviting all union members to stand together for our union brothers and sisters and take action:

1. ACTION LUNCH HOUR (PDF) - Participate in May 20 Statehouse Action Day, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., to generate public awareness and gather petition signatures.
   
   
• Meet at one of the four corners around the Statehouse and in front of the Rhodes SOT and Riffe SOT.
• Action Day T-Shirts (see image above) will be available for the first 100 volunteers who show up.
• Distribute fliers and secure petition signatures.
  
  
2. EMAIL YOUR STATE SENATOR - Please call or write your state senators and urge them to stop any plans that would replace laid-off workers with inmates.

OCSEA President Eddie L. Parks recently wrote letters to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, John Haseley, as well as other members of the board asking that they restore funding and reject any plan that would allow inmates to do the same duties that OCSEA members performed at the Statehouse.

According to the letter:

“We aren’t opposed to inmate vocational and job training programs for inmates per se and believe that there are appropriate and meaningful programs that don’t directly displace workers. But our members who were laid off are law-abiding citizens. They’ve played by the rules. They’re taxpayers and they contribute to the economy. We don’t believe that the image of middle class workers on a recall list being replaced by inmates is the kind of message that the administration wants to convey regarding how they value state employees."

Media interest remains high regarding this controversial measure, so please also consider writing letters to your local newspaper editors.

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