OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / JuLY 31, 2025

The OCSEA 36th Biennial Convention will take place August 28 through August 30, 2025, at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, 100 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland, OH 44114. See updates and important deadlines below. Each chapter must send at least one delegate to the biennial convention. Get more OCSEA Convention pre-news at OCSEA.org/convention.

The registration deadline for timely credential submission is next Friday, Aug. 8 by 5 p.m. Forms were mailed to all presidents and secretaries with the official Convention Call. Chapters delegates must submit their forms to Theresa Smith by Aug. 8 via email: tsmith@ocsea.org, fax: 614-865-4030 OR mail: 390 Worthington Rd. Westerville, OH 43082 ATTN: Theresa Smith.

 

Any registrant whose paperwork is received past the Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. deadline will have to go through the Credentials Committee starting Wednesday evening of Convention to determine their delegate status.

While the convention will take place at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, all rooms for the Hilton ARE BOOKED. The overflow hotel for convention is the Westin Cleveland Downtown located at 777 St. Clair Ave. NE, Cleveland, OH 44114.

 

Please contact the Westin Cleveland Downtown hotel directly to book lodging.
Chapters can book online at this special link OR Call: 888-627-8085 and reference "OCSEA Attendees Block".

 

For any questions regarding the hotel, please contact Gina Ison at gison@ocsea.org. 

OCSEA is looking for members to volunteer as singers at the OCSEA Convention in August taking place in Cleveland. Being a delegate or alternate to convention would be preferable, but it is not required.

 

The performance days would be either Thursday, Aug. 28 or Friday, Aug. 29 in the morning performing either the National Anthem (Thursday) or America the Beautiful (Friday). A run-through on Wednesday evening would also be preferable, but is not required.

 

To be considered, contact Deirdre O'Neill-Wedig at doneill@ocsea.org or 614-865-2604. Providing a singing demo is always encouraged.

This month's Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. Post these flyers on your worksite union bulletin boards for quick access to OCSEA news, events, discounts and more. Chapters should upload them monthly to keep the union news fresh!

 

Don't have an onsite union bulletin board? The virtual bulletin board network at OCSEA.org/UBBN gives OCSEA members access to union flyers with a click of a button. Chapters that don't have boards are urged to email the flyers or UBBN link to their members monthly and to distribute at chapter meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing flyers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.

This month's virtual flyers include:

• Combined Charitable Campaign Kickoff: Coming Together to Give
• Labor Day Events
• Labor Day, the Union-Made Way
• Union-Made Back-to-School Shopping
• AFL-CIO Nationwide Bus Tour & More
• Working Advantage: End of Summer Hot Deals

As of July 7, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that it has completed sending over 3.1 million payments, totaling $17 billion, to beneficiaries eligible under the Social Security Fairness Act. The SSA indicates that it is currently 5 months ahead of schedule on payments.

 

The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5, 2025. It ended the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits of over 2.8 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a “non-covered pension”). The law, which passed due to strong advocacy by public union activists, particularly our AFSCME retirees, increases Social Security benefits for certain types of public workers.

 

Starting February 25, 2025, SSA began adjusting monthly benefit payments to those whose benefits were affected by the WEP and GPO. Anyone whose monthly benefit is adjusted, or who will get a past due payment, has or will receive a mailed notice from Social Security explaining the benefit change or past due payment. (NOTE: A beneficiary may receive two mailed notices, the first when WEP or GPO is removed from their record, and a second when their monthly benefit amount is adjusted for their new monthly payment amount. They may receive the past due payment before receiving the mailed notice.)

 

If you want to verify that the mailing address and direct deposit information that SSA has on file is accurate and up to date:

• Check your personal my Social Security account. Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to sign in or create an account.
• If you are unable to create an account, please call 1-800-772-1213 to verify the information we have on file.

Join the Dropkick Murphys and the AFL-CIO for a concert and rally on Sunday, Aug. 10 in downtown Cleveland. This is part of the AFL-CIO Nationwide Bus Tour, including "It's Better In A Union" rallies taking place around the country leading up to Labor Day!

 

The Dropkick Murphys concert will take place Aug. 10 from 4-6 p.m. You can get information on the Dropkick Murphys concert HERE, including how to purchase tickets from the Ohio AFL-CIO. The location of the rally is still being ironed out but will be within walking distance from Jacobs Pavilion, where the concert is being held. 

 

For updates on the rally, visit the Ohio AFL-CIO's Facebook page in the Events section HERE or on Mobilize HERE. The downtown Cleveland rally will be free, and you don't have to attend the concert to participate.

When union members come together on Labor Day, it's about more than barbecues and parades. Labor Day, a celebration of union members and workers, is about showing the power we all can have to make a difference on the job.

 

Labor Day is a celebration of the hard work of union members across the USA who make our nation happen. Labor Day is a celebration of public union members––like YOU––who give of themselves day in, day out to make Ohio the best it can be. Make it a celebration! Check out some Labor Day events happening across Ohio below or visit this LINK to find an event near you.

The Cincinnati Labor Council's 2025 Labor Day Weekend Family Picnic Basket Celebration will be Saturday, August 30 from Noon to 6 p.m. at Stricker's Grove! The labor council invites all union members and their families for a day of fun celebrating labor's hard work! The event location is 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45013.

 

Tickets are $25 per person. Get more information on the event HERE or download the event flyers and ticket order form on our website HERE. Got questions? Contact Brian at the Cincinnati Labor Council directly at info@cincinnatiaflcio.org or 513-421-1846.

The Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO will hold their Labor Day Picnic on Wednesday August 20 from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The picnic dinner is open to all union members and their families. Food will be provided but an RSVP is required to ensure there is enough food and beverages to go around.

 

The event will be held at the Wolfe Park Shelter House located at 105 Park Dr, Columbus, OH 43209. It will includes fun and games for all ages and a 50/50 raffle. Have questions? Contact Jamie Shumaker at jshumaker@columbusaflcio.org.

 

RSVP to attend HERE.