Important Update! Day of Action to protect democracy moved to May 3
Please join us for the HJR 1/SJR 2 Day of Action, which has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, May 3 at 12:30 p.m. Late last week, we made a call to action to OCSEA leaders for a Statehouse Day of Action to take a stand against HJR1/SJR2 and the attack on one person, one vote in Ohio. But the House or Representatives moved their session date to vote to next week!
But we will not be deterred by a simple date change!
OCSEA and our labor and coalition partners against HJR1/SJR2 are planning the same action on Wednesday, May 3 at 12:30 p.m. The Day of Action will begin at the Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Columbus. RSVP today at the button below to attend, and you'll be updated as soon as final plans and a gathering location are solidified. Download and share flyer.
No on HJR1/SJR 2 Day of Action
Wednesday, May 3, 12:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
125 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215
Steward Conference registration now open
The OCSEA Steward Conference is Saturday, June 3, 2023 in Columbus. Register today and join OCSEA contract enforcers from all over the state for this important annual event. Learn more about fighting for and protecting the union contract and building skills for your local chapter.
Every OCSEA steward and leader is highly encouraged to attend. Additionally, every OCSEA member is welcome to participate to learn more about the union. The conference will be in-person but also available via Zoom. Register at OCSEA.org/StewardConference
Additionally, there will be two steward trainings held Friday evening before the conference. This includes one Basic Steward Training and one Advance Steward Training. The in-person trainings are limited to 50 participants per training, so register soon before spots fill up. You can register for your training of choice when you register for the Steward Conference.
Celebrating public employees this Ohio State Parks Week
April 22-30 is Ohio State Parks Week, and we encourage everyone to get outside and explore one of Ohio’s 75 state parks. Ohio State Parks make perfect close-to-home vacations and offer so much recreation and more.
We're so proud of all the OCSEA union brothers and sisters who work in our state parks all across Ohio and make them amazing places to visit. We're so lucky to have such dedicated public employees in our state parks. From Ohio Department Of Natural Resources (ODNR) Naturalists to store clerks, to those who maintain grounds and habitats, to administrative staff behind the scenes, they do it all!
This includes the awesome custodial staff at Pymatuning State Park in Ashtabula County. OCSEA members and ODNR Custodial Workers Kelly Hudnall, Angela Palmer and Donna Powers maintain the park's 40 cabins. Their work is unique because Pymatuning is one of the only parks in the state that still has state-operated cabins. Kelly and her group of bargaining unit sisters work so hard cleaning and laundering the park's cabins for guests and always have each others' backs!
Get out and explore an Ohio State Park near you. Check out all they have to offer HERE.
May Union Bulletin Board Network flyers available online
The May 2023 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) fliers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. The virtual bulletin board gives OCSEA members access to union fliers with a click of a button. With some members continuing to telework, many working hybrid and others working 100% on site, the UBBN fliers give OCSEA members access to important union information. This includes OCSEA events, discounts and more. Get UBBNs at OCSEA.org/UBBN.
Chapters are urged to place these fliers on their workplace bulletin boards, where applicable, and distribute at meetings. This month's virtual fliers include:
- Union Education Trust education benefits
- June 3 OCSEA Steward Conference
- OCSEA discounts and perks, including Kings Island and Cedar Point
- AFSCME's important I AM STORY podcast.
Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.
Annual OCSEA Women's Conference focuses on activism and motivation
OCSEA members from all around Ohio gathered this past Saturday for the annual Women's Action Committee Conference. The event was held in person at Salt Fork State Park Lodge for the first time since the pandemic.
WAC Chair Annie Pleasant Combs and her committee led the event that included lots of personal motivation, union and community activism and solidarity. President Chris Made, Vice President Rocky Jolly, Secretary-Treasurer Kathy Gerpser and Union Benefits Trust Director Angela Harrington were all on hand to speak to attendees.
The event was kicked off by the all-female DRC State Honor Guide, who presented the colors and honored our nation.
Three female guest speakers inspired the group on topics from personal growth to activism. Latrice Snodgrass, a life coach and author, honed in on taking care of your mental and physical health and breaking the stigmas that come with asking for help.
Jen Miller, the Executive Director of the Ohio League of Women Voters, talked about her group’s bipartisan efforts to protect voting and democracy. She asked members to get involved, stand up for their rights and fight legislation and actions harmful to democracy like Ohio's HJR1 and gerrymandering.
Canton City Council Woman Chris Smith talked about taking care of your communities and remembering where you came from. She encouraged members to get involved in making a difference no matter what obstacles are put in their way.
Attendees also gathered stuffed animals for and contributed donations to the Creature Comforts program headed up by Secretary-Treasurer Gersper.
See more photos from the event: Facebook | Instagram