Solidarity is Our Strength

OCSEA's 36th Biennial Convention
August 28-30, 2025

Hilton Cleveland Downtown,
100 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland, OH 44114
Ph: 216-413-5000, ext. 1

Convention Theme

“Solidarity is Our Strength”

This year’s convention theme, “Solidarity is Our Strength,” emphasizes the power of our union when we work together with unity and determination. As we gather for our biennial convention, there is much to discuss about the challenges and opportunities facing organized labor. Collective bargaining rights in Ohio are under attack once again and our union brothers and sisters in the federal workforce are losing their jobs in unprecedented numbers. Our theme also looks to the future of public service and how, by working together, we can grow and adapt to keep our union strong. As we have proven through the years, when we stand shoulder to shoulder as members and leaders of OCSEA, there is nothing we can’t accomplish through solidarity!

Hotel Registration

Lodging will be available at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, 100 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44114.

For reservations, please contact the hotel directly at 216-413-5000, ext. 1 (Mention OCSEA when booking) or visit https://book.passkey.com/go/OHCSEA. Mention OCSEA when booking. The deadline for hotel reservations is August 5, 2025.

The room rate is $189.00 plus tax for single/double and $214.00 plus tax for triple occupancy. Plan to pay by Business (Chapter) check? Read the guidelines for submitting a check to the Hilton.

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

Delegate Registration

Credential Submission Deadline: August 8

The deadline for timely credential submission is Friday, August 8 by 5 p.m. Delegates and Alternates must submit their forms to Theresa Smith by email at tsmith@ocsea.org, by fax at 614-865-4030, or by mail at 390 Worthington Rd. Westerville, OH 43082 ATTN: Theresa Smith, Credentials.

Any registration submissions received past the August 8, 2025, deadline will be have to go through the Credential Committee at Convention starting Wednesday evening.

Important Documents

Official 36th Biennial OCSEA Convention Call - March 2025

First Notice Letter to Presidents and Secretaries - February 24, 2025

Proposed amendments

The proposed OCSEA constitutional amendments that were submitted for the 2025 Biennial Convention were emailed to subordinate body presidents and secretaries. Chapters should distribute these proposed amendments to their convention delegates as soon as possible. The proposed amendments will be voted on at the upcoming convention.

Proposed Resolutions

Coming soon

Jean Fightmaster Leadership Award

Nomination Deadline: July 18, 2025 deadline HAS PASSED

To celebrate life and union legacy of activist Jean Fightmaster, OCSEA has created The Jean Fightmaster Leadership Award, which will be awarded at the 36th Biennial Convention in Cleveland in August. Jean, who passed away in 2023, was revered by her friends and colleagues as a “force of nature” and a dedicated union activist who truly embodied her last name.

Learn more about the award and about Jean's legacy at ocsea.org/leadership.

Contact Information:

General Questions: Gina Ison

gison@ocsea.org

Registration/Delegate Questions: Theresa Smith

tsmith@ocsea.org

OCSEA Biennial Convention