The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
Union News / May 19, 2022
Looking ahead after "slap-in-the-face" Arb decision
This week’s decision by the arbitrator to side with management was rough, heartbreaking and, as so many OCSEA members expressed it this week, a real SLAP in the face to Ohio’s essential public workers across Ohio who worked through the pandemic.
Essential employees made daily sacrifices to keep Ohioans safe during the pandemic and keep our State’s economy afloat. Some stayed in hotels away from their family so they could keep working; others worked day and night, 16 hours a day due to short staffing; many (SO many) employees became sick from their jobs. Some even died due to COVID.
Management is calling this decision a “win," which is absurd. What we see it as is a major LOSS for Ohio public employment. This will cause dedicated civil servants to run for the exits, stalling any and all attempts for the State to retain or attract quality employees. This is step backwards in those efforts.
The State can never EVER call our union brothers and sisters heroes again. They don’t have the right.
The State of Ohio can do the right thing, right now! The State has the ability to pay a stipend to employees right now for their heroism, settle all pandemic grievances, including sick leave, and make state employees whole. Not only is there American Rescue Plan money, but April 2022 was the highest revenue intake on record for the State of Ohio, at $3.3 billion. That is $1 billion more than anticipated, a 45.6% increase over the planned estimate.
In addition, for the entire fiscal year 2022, the State is now $2.5 billion (12%) OVER their estimate. The State has so much money it doesn’t know what to do with it. But this union knows what they can do with it. In the words of one member this week, it's time to "PAY US NOW!"
As a union, this is our moment, to mourn for our dead but fight like hell for the living. Are you ready? It’s time to pick ourselves up and show them what we’re all about. The union strongly disagrees with the decision and will be encouraging members to participate in upcoming actions, including a rally at the Statehouse, to fight this decision and to pressure the administration to recognize our contract and pay us now!
We will show management that we are strong and united and that we not going to take this lying down. Coming soon, look for news on how you, as a union member, can take action and participate in rallies and pickets to demand that your union contract be properly enforced, to speak out about how this decision impacts Ohio's essential workers and to declare just how the State of Ohio can make this right! Will you be there? The only way to make real change is if you are, and every union bargaining unit member is too!
Don't miss out! More Family fun member-only summer discounts added
Summer is just within reach, and we're excited to announce that even more member-only Family Fun discounts have been added. These offers include discounts to Ohio theme parks, zoos and aquariums, water parks and more. Venues include Kings Island, Cedar Point, Zoombezi Bay, the Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo zoos, the Newport and Cleveland aquariums, and COSI.
Get quick access to a few of those deals right now:
- 1/2 price Zoombezi Bay
- King's Island's 50th Anniversary Celebration
- Marvel® Universe of Super Heroes event at COSI
Get the full details and access to ALL summer discounts at ocsea.org/familyfun (Member login required). Looking for even more? Check out the year-round member discounts and deals at OCSEA.org/Extras (Member login also required).
Upcoming union events include CMCA, Women & Steward conferences
There are several union conferences taking place over the next few weeks. Registration for all OCSEA conference is available online.
CMCA Conference
OCSEA's Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference is TOMORROW on Zoom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is 100% virtual. There is still time to RSVP up to the day of the event as long as you plan to attend on your own time (the deadline for release time requests has passed). Register at this Zoom link. Special guests will include Dionne Smith, PhD, and Billy White. Smith is a licensed, independent chemical dependency counselor-supervisor and a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) with MHAS. White, a tattoo artist and owner of Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville, Ohio, will talk about the importance of being involved and giving back to our communities. View the full agenda at OCSEA.org/CMCA.
Steward Conference
OCSEA's Steward Conference will take place in person on Saturday June 4 at Deer Creek State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A virtual option to attend on Zoom is also available. Every steward and leader is highly encouraged to attend the conference, especially as we continue to have important, yet difficult conversations about how we, all together, can fight to protect the union contract from constant attacks and erosion. RSVP online now. You will have the option to choose whether you will be attending in-person or virtually.
Women's Conferences
OCSEA's Women's Action Committee (WAC) Conference will take place on Friday, June 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Zoom. This event is 100% virtual as well. Register at this Zoom link. The deadline to register is May 27 in order to request release time for this event. Raffle Donations Needed: The Women's Action Committee is looking for for raffle donations from chapters and other subordinate bodies. Contact Gina Ison about donating an item gison@ocsea.org.
Additionally, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is hosting their Ohio Statewide Women’s Conference June 3-4 in Downtown Cleveland. Confirmed guest speakers include CLUW National President Elise Bryant, APRI President Clayola Brown, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride and Ohio Federation of Teachers President and Ohio AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Melissa Cropper. Participants will also join together for a meet-and-greet reception and a celebrity breakfast with actress Kim Coles. Learn more about the event HERE.
Reminder: Health Care Open enrollment ends May 25
Don't forget, if you need to enroll in or make changes to your State health care plan, the deadline to do so is Wednesday, May 25, by 11:59 p.m. The State of Ohio Health Care Open Enrollment period covers the benefit year that begins July 1, 2022 and runs through June 30, 2023.
The good news is this year there will be no changes to employees’ out-of-pocket costs for their current health care plan, according to the Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC). This includes NO premium increase. Read more about that on the union's website. Get the DAS MyBenefits Guide, HERE.
And don't forget, it's also open enrollment for your union-negotiated Union Benefits Trust (UBT) premium-free dental, vision and life insurance benefits. Eligible OCSEA members should visit the Union Benefits Trust (UBT) website at BenefitsTrust.org to enroll in, review and/or update their dental and vision benefits coverage. The UBT dental and vision enrollment form is available on the website. UBT coverage is premium free, thanks to the OCSEA contract, and maintained by the union.