OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / October 1, 2026

 

OCSEA's celebration of its member veterans, past and present, will be held November 13 & 14. Registration is now open for the OCSEA Veterans Committee Conference, the union's annual celebration of veterans of every branch of the military.

 

The Veterans Conference will take place at the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center in eastern Ohio. All OCSEA members, including our member veterans, are encouraged to attend. The conference theme “Leadership Forged in Service, Strengthened in Solidarity" will connect the role that union members play in protecting our nation––and the roll unions play in making sure our veteran workers have a voice.

 

The Veterans Committee will hold a reception Friday evening, Nov. 13. The main program will be held throughout the day on Saturday, Nov. 14. The conference is free and includes lunch on Saturday.

 

Overnight accommodations must be made directly with the Lodge by calling 740-435-9000. Mention the OCSEA Veterans Conference when booking.

 

Get information on the conference, including registration, lodging, tentative agenda and veterans award nominations at OCSEA.org/Veterans. 

 

Please note: Online registration is not available. Participants can complete the fillable registration form, download and send to OCSEA over email or in the mail. If dropping off registration forms at OCSEA Central Office, indicate "OCSEA Veterans Conference - ATTN Jennifer Walsh" on your packet.

 

OCSEA Veterans Committee Conference

November 13-14, 2026

Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center

11073 Natural Resources 3 Road, Kimbolton, OH 43749

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 6

Learn More

Last week, OCSEA called for an immediate meeting with the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Office of Collective Bargaining (OCB) regarding a recently proposed staffing change that could potentially impact hundreds of ODJFS union members who provide federal job services.

 

Wagner-Peyser is a federally funded program providing labor exchange services in each state. Currently these services are provided by highly qualified OCSEA union members within ODJFS’s Office of Workforce Development.

One of those potentially impacted OCSEA members is Shelly Bailey, an OCSEA union activist and President of Northwest Chapter 3510. As an ODJFS Customer Service Representative with nearly 18 years of experience, Shelly says that OCSEA member employment professionals do much more than simply connect people to jobs.

 

Shelly’s concern is that state leaders do not understand the difference between employment professionals and staffing agencies. She says positions like hers help unemployed workers understand their unemployment notices, create a professional resume, navigate their unemployment requirements, use and complete their resumes/career profiles on ohiomeansjobs.com, prepare for interviews, resolve certain issues that could delay their unemployment benefits, connect people with local resources and so much more. This includes serving Ohio veterans and working with Corrections for those who need help reentering the workforce. “We’re there for the people. We’re there to help them when they’re sometimes at the lowest part of their life,” she said.

 

The strongest emotional thread is Shelly’s belief that this work is rooted in public service. She emphasizes that workers stay in these jobs because they care about helping people, not because the work is easy or lucrative. “My hope is that [ODJFS] will see that there’s a value in what we do and understand what it takes to do our job. And not outsource our positions to somebody else,” she said.

 

Shelly says outsourcing or eliminating merit staff would not just reduce headcount—it would remove trusted, experienced guidance for Ohioans at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.

 

ODJFS and OCB responded to the union's request for an impact meeting stating a commitment to continued discussions with the union. The union reiterated its reminder to the State of Ohio its obligation to follow the union contract regarding staffing changes and communication with the union.

 

The union said it will provide the ODJFS/OCB, as requested, with dates and times to discuss the staffing proposal and information formally requested by the union.

 

Stay tuned for updates on this issue in future emails and on the OCSEA website at OCSEA.org.

This month's Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. Use these flyers for 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 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 distribute at chapter meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.

This month's virtual flyers include:

• OCSEA Veterans Conference is Nov 13-14
• Important Election Dates
• Kings Island member-only Halloween deals
• AFSCME Family Scholarships
• Rocket Arena Advantage member-only deals
• Union-made Halloween treats
• Meet your OCSEA State Contract Bargaining Team
• Working Advantage: Fall offers you'll love

The most important step to participating in the democratic electoral process is to make sure you are registered to vote. Ohio’s voter registration deadline is THIS Monday, October 5. Use this weekend to make sure you are registered and that your contact information is up-to-date, including your name and home address. And then, make sure that everyone you know—your family, friends and co-workers—is registered and that their registration information is correct.

 

Early voting in Ohio begins THIS Tuesday, October 6. That includes early in-person voting and absentee voting by mail. Each county has a designated early vote location. This is NOT the same location as your polling place. Get links to locations, the full early voting schedule, and unoin endorsements at OCSEAVotes.org.

Check Registration

All subordinate body leaders are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming OCSEA Financial Leadership Trainings. Two events are scheduled over the next few months: Tuesday, October 6 from 3-5 p.m. and Tuesday, December 8 from 3-5 p.m. All events will be held at the OCSEA Union Hall in Westerville. You can only register for one session.

 

While it is a finance-themed training, it is also an important event for all subordinate body leaders to attend. In addition to rebates, reporting, forms, minutes and more, the training will also cover officer and executive board duties.

 

Sign up using the form at this link. You will be able to choose which training you would like to attend. When registering, indicate whether you will need release time. Please note: lost wages and mileage will not be provided by OCSEA Central Office; contact your subordinate body with questions about those expenses.

 

Have questions? Contact the OCSEA Membership Resource Center (MRC) at 888-627-3211.

RSVP for Financial Leadership Training

Join union leaders and members across Ohio for door-to-door canvass events every Saturday. These events will allow union voices to talk one-on-one in neighborhoods with union families about electing union-strong endorsed candidates up and down the ballot!

 

LABOR 2026 CANVASS: EVERY SATURDAY

• COLUMBUS: UFCW Local 1059, 4150 E Main St. | Contact: Mike French, mfrench@ohaflcio.org
• CLEVELAND: Locations vary by week | Contact: Rebecca Gorski, rgorski@clevelandaflcio.org
• TOLEDO: TFT, 115 S St. Clair St., Toledo, OH 43604 | Contact: Mike Noll, mnoll@ohaflcio.org
• NILES: USW 2155/Mahoning-Trumbull CLC, 1265 N. Main St. | Contact: Kathleen Kelly-Calcei, kcalcei@ohaflcio.org
• CANTON: USW Golden Lodge, 1234 Harrison Ave., SW | Contact: Kathleen Kelly-Calcei, kcalcei@ohaflcio.org
• DAYTON: Dayton-Miami Valley CLC, 6550 Poe Ave. | Contact: Will Minehart, wminehart@ohaflcio.org
• AKRON: Tri-County Regional Labor Council, 720 Wolf Ledges Pkwy | Contact: Kyle Weidleman, kweidlem@aft.org
• CINCINNATI: Cincinnati AFL-CIO/APWU Local 164, 1385 Tennessee Ave. | Contact: Will Minehart, wminehart@ohaflcio.org

Download Flyer

RSVP