The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
Union News / SEPTEMBER 14 , 2022
ORW picketerS call for change now!!!
About 50 activists gathered outside of the Ohio Reformatory for Women wearing black t-shirts with green writing and carrying signs that said “I miss my kids” and “I miss my family” and “We Miss Our Mommies and Daddies.” The crowd was picketing working conditions inside the women’s prison where Correction Officers and others are working 16 hours a day, four and five days a week. And to add insult to injury, management has refused the union’s request to re-start the bid process that would allow employees at least more flexibility in their schedules.
Tom Holden, president of ORW Chapter 8010, said his members have had enough. He told Spectrum News 1, one of the many media outlets covering the event: “I have staff all the time calling me. They’re in tears. They’re sleeping in their cars,” he said.
While the union has pressed management to do everything they can to recruit new employees—including bringing forward a classification upgrade—at ORW, management refuses to take the steps they can take right now to alleviate the overtime pain for staff, like opening up the bid process.
“We know that prison staffing shortages are a statewide and nationwide problem and that it might take time for that to work itself out. But we also know that management can do things right now to help our schedules. They’re just refusing to do so at ORW,” said OCSEA Chris Mabe. “We have staffing issues around the state, but other prisons don’t have this problem. That doesn't mean employees can't have a work/life balance even with staff shortages,” he said.
Moving forward, Chapter Pres. Holden hopes management will agree to come back to the table to discuss what can be done about the bid process and getting managers to pitch in to relieve staff.
The event was picked up by numerous media outlets. Read some of the coverage below:
‘Holding us hostage:’ Staff at Marysville women’s prison to picket working conditions - NBC4
Ohio Reformatory for Women employees picket to address working conditions -Spectrum1 News
ORW Employees Picket To Protest Unsafe Staffing Conditions - Union County Daily Digital
Workers picket in front of ORW - Marysville Journal-Tribune
Staff at Marysville women’s prison to picket working conditions - WDTN
Read the Union's Press Advisory HERE. | See more photos from the event HERE.
Register now! OCSEA's Veterans Day celebration, conference is Nov. 12
You are invited to come together to honor our veterans and celebrate Veterans Day. OCSEA's Veterans Conference will be held on Saturday, November 12. The union's annual conference will honor all who have served and celebrate OCSEA's member veterans, past and present. All members are welcome to attend the celebration!
OCSEA Veterans Conference registration is now open. REGISTER HERE. When you sign up online, you will be asked whether you will be attending in person or virtually. Once you register, you will receive an immediate confirmation with a Zoom participation link for those who picked the virtual option. You will also receive an event confirmation email. Get more information and updates on the Veterans Conference at OCSEA.org/Veterans.
WHAT: OCSEA Veterans Conference & Veterans Day Celebration
WHEN: The event will be held in-person on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Hilton Columbus/Polaris, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH 43240.
A virtual option is available to those who cannot attend in person.
LODGING: There is a room block reserved at Hilton Columbus/Polaris for November 11, 2022 through November 12, 2022. BOOK LODGING HERE.
Select "Book a Room" to receive your group's preferred rate. Please note all reservations booked will be required to add a credit card to guarantee reservation at time of booking. When checking into the hotel, a form of payment will be required for room, tax, and any incidentals. The hotel costs are the responsibility of the individual or chapter.
State of Working Ohio report: we must turn to unions to rebuild
Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped work in our state, The State of Working Ohio: A Better Bargain report says "Ohioans are rebuilding and establishing new norms." The report released by Policy Matters Ohio on Labor Day says workers deserve a better bargain and that unions are a key factor to establishing new norms and giving working people the resources they need to move forward and rebuild in a post-pandemic world.
"The challenges of the past two years have made it unclear what normalization will look like or when it will come," says the report. But what must happens, the report recommends, is that we cannot return to pre-pandemic status quo: "a jobs landscape where corporations had wrested power from working people largely by crushing their unions and hoarding the wealth they create."
The report indicates what we all know, that "many Ohioans are paid lower wages and have lower living standards than their parents or grandparents had," ultimately stoking anger and resentment that has pitted workers against one another. The report makes recommendations on how those in power can actually use their power to make Ohio a place where everyone can thrive and Ohioans can reclaim stability.
"Winning that must start with workers reclaiming their power," says the report, which is why the report's number one recommendation is Help workers form and join unions. "To claim their share of the wealth they make possible, workers must be able join in unions. Employers use many strategies to undermine workers’ efforts to organize. Federal lawmakers should pass the PRO Act to protect and encourage those efforts. Ohio and local governments can use federal funds to bar contractors and tax-abated businesses from interfering with union activity," says the report.
The report also recommends that politicians use targeted policy tools to curb inflation, raise the minimum wage, invest in higher education, use unused federal stimulus to build a recovery for all Ohioans and more. READ THE STATE OF WORKING OHIO REPORT.
This month's virtual Bulletin Board is now AVAILABLE
The September 2022 UBBN fliers are now available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN.
The virtual Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) gives OCSEA members access to informational union fliers with a simple click. With some members continuing to telework, many working hybrid and others working 100% on site, the UBBN fliers, distributed online monthly, give OCSEA members access to important union information, including events, discounts and more. Chapters are also urged to place these fliers on their workplace bulletin boards, where applicable, and distribute at meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.
This month's virtual fliers include information on registering for the upcoming Veterans Conference and Columbus Blue Jackets Union Nights as well as member-only discounts to COSI, the Franklin Park Conservatory, Ohio State Park Lodges and the African Safari Wildlife Park.
Get member-only fall savings at Kings Island & Cedar point
Summer may be coming to an end, but the OCSEA Family Fun discounts continue through the end of October at Kings Island's and Cedar Point's Halloween weekends. Enjoy all the stomach-churning thrills and the frightful chills—and enjoy member discounted tickets for being union.
OCSEA members can enjoy Kings Island Saturday fall admission for just $59 and Friday OR Sunday admission for only $39.99—saving half off the gate price! Tickets are valid weekends Sept 23-Oct. 30 and include open rides and the Tricks and Treats Fall Fest (starts Sept. 25) and Halloween Haunt attractions. Kings Island was recently named "Park of the Year" by Amusement Today. GET TICKETS | Username: KIAFSCME Password: KINGSISLAND
Cedar Point fans can also enjoy discounted tickets for HalloWeekends, with Saturday admission for $63 and Thursday, Friday OR Sunday admission for only $48! Tickets valid Sept. 15- Oct. 30. GET TICKETS | Username: CPAFSCME Password: CEDARPOINT