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!