The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
Union News / September 7, 2022
Labor Day: Leaders see cause for optimism, union support increases to 71 Percent
Growing numbers of people are discovering the union difference––better wages and benefits, a voice on the job, a secure retirement, and stronger and healthier communities. Public approval of labor unions in our country is on the rise, reaching 71 percent according to a new Gallup poll that was released just before the Labor Day weekend. That’s the highest level since 1965 and three points higher than just one year ago.
"Working people have been through the wringer these last few years. A devastating public health crisis has demanded more and more of us, but we’ve very often gotten less and less in return," wrote AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders in his Labor Day message in Newsweek. But Saunders reminded the 1.4 million AFSCME public servant union members across the nation that there's cause for great optimism as "the hardships of the pandemic have lit a fire under working people, who are organizing with momentum we haven't seen in years."
AFL-CIO Pres. Liz Shuler says there is cause for much celebration as "our union movement that is delivering results, with workers coming together and organizing to make our jobs better, across the country." She thanks union workers across the nation, noting that worker victories have been achieved "thanks to your activism, organizing and advocacy."
This past weekend, OCSEA members celebrated the power of unions at every corner of Ohio. OCSEA activists celebrated their union pride, from a massive AFL-CIO Labor Day celebration at the Great American Ball Park with AFL-CIO's Shuler and Sec. of Labor Marty Walsh, to hometown festivals and parades from Lorain to Newark. This included OCSEA activist Brian Weiss (pictured far right), a Chapter 5700 Executive Board member, who spent Sunday with his family among his union brothers and sisters at the ballpark. OCSEA District 2 gave away tickets to 200 OCSEA members for the Reds event with the Cincinnati AFL-CIO. The event honored workers and the power of a union voice on the job.
As union approval and worker organizing rises coast-to-coast, it was apparent this past Labor Day weekend that workers are putting 'labor' back in Labor Day. Mainstream media couldn't help but remind viewers of the power of union members and worker voices as workplaces change and evolve, not only because of the pandemic, but because workers are seeing their value and wising up to the exploitation that can inflict them and their co-workers.
Ohio Reformatory for Women members to hold picket Monday, Sept. 12
OCSEA members at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, Chapter 8010, will hold a picket outside the institution on Monday, Sept. 12 from 6 a.m-4 p.m. to protest working conditions at the prison.
Like many state institutions, the Ohio Reformatory for Women has been plagued by understaffing and retention issues, which has caused excessive mandatory overtime. At ORW, it’s not unusual for Correction Officers to work 4 or 5 days of back-to-back overtime every single week. On top of that, ORW management has frozen the union’s bid process and won’t allow employees to move to other positions even when there’s an opening. But the worst part is: Management refuses to work with local union leadership to fix the problem.
Correction Officer Tom Holden, the OCSEA Chapter President at ORW, said there has been zero cooperation with management and employees are just walking out the door left and right. “Our officer of the year just quit, so you know it’s bad,” he said. He said the lack of respect for front line custody staff and the lack of any work/life balance is just pushing staff out.
The sad part is, the problem is fixable, said Holden, even with the decreases in staff. “Basically, they are holding us hostage because they refuse to sit down with us to fix the problem,” he said.
Holden acknowledged that there are many state facilities going through similar hardships. “We fully understand everyone’s suffering. This is our battle. We could just use any support you can give,” said Holden, who encourages any OCSEA members and supporters to join him and his union members on the picket line.
WHAT: Union Picket at the Ohio Reformatory for Women against excessive overtime and working conditions
WHERE: Ohio Reformatory for Women, 1479 Collins Ave, Marysville, OH 43040
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 from 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Food and drink will be available.
Save the Date: OCSEA veterans Conference is November 12
OCSEA activists will come together in-person to honor our veterans and celebrate OCSEA's member veterans, past and present, and all members are welcome to attend. The 2022 OCSEA Veterans Committee Conference will be held on Saturday, November 12, the day after Veterans Day. The event will be held starting at 10 a.m. at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, OH 43240. A virtual option will also be made available to those who cannot attend in person.
Stay tuned for information on registering for the event online as well as for reserving overnight stays at the hotel. Additionally, the Veterans Committee will be taking nominations for the OCSEA Veteran and OCSEA Veteran Supporter of the Year Awards, with more information forthcoming, including updated nomination forms to come.
Take a walk on the wild side with the franklin park CONSERVATORY topiary TAKEOVER
There's still a chance to take a wild journey across the world with the Topiary Collection at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens! The Topiary Takeover continues through Sept. 11. The special collection includes 25 topiaries made of living plants, including animal topiaries filled with plants to mimic the colors and textures of fur, skin, scales and feathers.
OCSEA members save $3 on admission to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with your Extras discounts and perks. Download your discount coupon HERE.
Franklin Park Conservatory is much more than displays of rare and beautiful plants. Visitors will find beautiful indoor and outdoor gardens, dynamic exhibitions, artwork, and over 400 species of plants displayed indoors in the Conservatory's glass greenhouses. Explore the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Gardens, two acres outside with unique, interactive experiences to connect children to the natural world and burn off that excess energy! Chihuly art glass exhibits, a garden railway and more await you! Additionally, the glass pumpkin sale, with exquisite blown pumpkins by local artists, is now underway.
Adults 13-59 OCSEA member - $16 | Seniors 60+ OCSEA member - $13
Children 3-12 OCSEA member - $9 | Members and children 2 and under FREE
Visit ocsea.org/extras for more year-round discounts and perks for members only. OCSEA membership and a MyOCSEA login is required to access OCSEA discounts.
Celebrate being union with the Blue Jackets, get free giveaway
Make it an event with your chapter, family and friends! Watch the Columbus Blue Jackets hit it hard on the ice at two exclusive OCSEA Union Nights: October 22, 2022 and March 11, 2023. Each ticket purchased includes a CBJ giveaway item. Click here to buy tickets from the CBL site for OCSEA members. Once tickets are purchased, you will receive instructions on how to pick up your free CBJ giveaway item. Promote the event with your chapter and union co-workers: Union Night Flier.
Want more information on this event and additional discounted events? Visit your union discounts and perks website at ocsea.org/extras.