On June 17, hundreds of OCSEA members came together for the Rally for Respect at the Ohio Statehouse. There is a growing concern that, as the pandemic shifts, the sacrifices of Ohio's essential workers will all but be forgotten. Impassioned, and at-times angry and emotional, member activist speakers told their personal, painful and heartbreaking stories of the pandemic and those of their union brothers and sisters. Where is the respect and compensation they deserve, they all asked? That, too, is all but forgotten.
But this rally was not the end. It is just the beginning. And now it's important that we take the momentum and solidarity of the rally back to workplaces and communities. This starts by educating our communities on the sacrifices of Ohio's public employees, and what the leaders of Ohio can do right now to show them the respect they deserve.
Writing a personalized letter to the editor to your local paper is a great start! Letters to the editor are among the most widely read features in most local papers. They allow you to reach a large audience and are a great way to start a community conversation about an issue important to you. It's also a great way to call on (and call out) elected officials to take action on an issue. Click for a sample letter: DOC| PDF
Here are a few tips on writing a local letter to the editor (DOWNLOAD TIPS FLIER):
- Keep it brief. (200 words is the average max limit)
- Write the letter as a union member, not a public employee.
- Make your point immediately: Tell the State of Ohio to compensate essential employees
- Stay on point with your message:
1) We worked and sacrificed for Ohio!
2) We deserve to be paid!
3) We know the State of Ohio has the funds to pay us! - Briefly talk about your public service job and the sacrifices you made.
- Most letters can be submitted online. Go to your local paper’s website for an email address or submission form.
- Include your full name, address and contact number and email.
- Include your union chapter name/number. Contact the MRC@ocsea.org if you don’t know your chapter.