Celebrating workers this labor Day; union support hits 71% approval
When union members come together on Labor Day, it's about more than barbecues and parades. It's about showing the power that union members have to make a difference on the job. And it displays the real impact that unions, public employees and the working class have (and have had) on our nation.
Union members, working together across the labor movement, won many important victories for working people last year like securing infrastructure funding, lobbying for student loan forgiveness for working families, fighting to preserve pensions, helping striking workers secure better contracts and unleashing a wave of union organizing. And, it is union workers, especially public employees, who keep our country moving forward through a global pandemic. And Americans are taking notice. In the annual Labor Day Gallup poll released yesterday, union support has hit a 57-year high, with 71 percent approving of labor unions.
But there’s still so much we can do together. Passing pro-worker laws will strengthen us at the bargaining table so we can care for ourselves and our families. And it will take each and every union member talking to one another about the issues that matter to advance the shared worker agenda. This also means not getting distracted by that which does not move us forward. Want to contribute to building that shared agenda and improve the lives of working people? The AFL-CIO is looking for union member feedback through its “What do you care about?” survey. You can fill out that survey HERE.
OCSEA District 2 to honor members at Great american Ball Park event
For OCSEA activists like Donald Davison, a Corrections Officer, OCSEA Board of Directors member and President of OCSEA District 2, Labor Day is about celebrating essential workers and reminding the membership about the power of being union. Officer Davison recently worked with his OCSEA district leaders to secure 200 giveaway tickets for OCSEA members to the Labor Day Union Day at the Great American Ball Park. The Cincinnati Reds celebration of labor is sponsored by the Cincinnati AFL-CIO and is being held for the first time at the Great American Ball Park after years at Coney Island.
"This Sunday, 200 District 2 members and their families will come together in celebration of public service employees. Our solidarity was tested throughout the pandemic, but our membership stayed strong and made our State work. This Labor Day celebration is just one small way we can honor our sacrifices and show we're in this together," said Donald.
"We are looking forward to seeing everyone. It will be the perfect way to show our OCSEA union solidarity and remind our community of what public union members do to keep us going," said Donald.
Mansfield labor to host family-friendly Labor Day event
OCSEA activists Alan Koser, Bill Homer, Bill Knipp and Alex Witte are all members of their local Mid-Ohio Area Labor Council and are involved in this year’s upcoming Mansfield Labor Day event. The Labor Council, which is made up of activists from many different unions, will be hosting a Labor Day parade as well as a Labor Day Festival after the march.
At the festival, union families and their kids will be able to ride the famous Richland County Carousel and get lunch for free! A face painter and a balloon artist will also be brought in, courtesy of OCSEA Chapter 7000. “Our focus has always been on union members and their whole families,” said Alan, who is the treasurer of the chapter. “That’s why we made this a family-friendly event.”
The Mansfield Labor Day parade takes place on Monday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m., with the festival going from 11 a.m-1 p.m. Mansfield-area unions involved in the planning and execution include the Steelworkers, Local Laborers 1216, IBEW 688, the Bricklayers, the Carpenters, the United Food and Commercial Workers as well as OCSEA Chapters 7000, 7010 and 7020 and 7021.
“This is what labor unions do. We try to give back to the communities that we live in. Same with our charity work. That’s what unions are all about,” said Alan.
FInd a Labor Day event near you.
AFSCME: Student debt relief is the help public employees, working people need
Last week, AFSCME President Lee Saunders applauded the new federal policy around student loan debt relief. The Biden administration will forgive up to $10,000 of college debt for low- and middle-class borrowers who did not receive Pell Grants to attend college, and up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants.
Will you be positively impacted by this debt student relief policy? Tell us about it at communications@ocsea.org.
Working-class debt is one of greatest contributors to a slow economy, ultimately impacting all of us. Student debt relief, and basically relief from greedy and debilitating loan interest, will make it easier for middle class Americans, including many OCSEA members and family members, to spend money on more important things and help grow our economy.
This is particularly helpful for so many OCSEA union members and other hard-working public employees, who are saddled with college debt that makes it hard to get their heads above water. From engineers and epidemiologists to inspectors and IT specialists, the OCSEA membership is filled with highly-skilled public employees who are using their education to make Ohio better for all. This policy will give many brothers and sisters some relief, which we should all agree is a good thing.
This includes Joachim Bean, an ODOT Planner 3, whose Master's Degree in City And Regional Planning has brought on student loan burden. His education helps him work with local transit agencies to improve their communities. He is skilled in compliance laws, grant writing and more. "It’s not everything, but forgiving $20,000 for me is a significant chunk," said Joachim, who says younger workers like himself just want a chance to invest in a secure future like those who came before them.
Download AFSCME's Student Loan Forgiveness and Relief Program Fact Sheet
AFSCME says expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program would also give public employees the relief they need. The program, which is separate from the loan forgiveness program above, assists workers in the military, in federal, state, tribal or local governments, and at certain nonprofit organizations with student loan forgiveness. AFSCME continues to monitor how those eligible for the PSFL program will be impacted by the recent student debt relief changes. AFSCME also continues to call on the federal government to extend the current PSFL deadline so that millions of more public employees can take advantage of the program. Unless that PSFL deadline is expanded, those wishing to benefit from the PSFL waiver only have until Oct. 31, 2022 before the deadline to apply expires. Click here to see if you are eligible.
Celebrate Union Nights with the Blue Jackets, get free giveaway
Watch the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets hit it hard on the ice at OCSEA Union Nights! Exclusive rates are available for OCSEA members and their families for two Union Night games on 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.
OCSEA Union Nights:
- Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m. vs. St. Louis Blues
Tickets start at $53* for OCSEA members. *Taxes and fees are additional. BUY TICKETS.
Want more information on this event and additional discounted events? Visit your union discounts and perks website at ocsea.org/extras.
Team up ODOT highlights INNOVATION and skill
Pres. Chris Mabe and union leaders in the Ohio Dept. of Transportation talked with a lot of members at last week's Team Up ODOT about issues that matter to them. The annual joint labor and management event, on hiatus during the pandemic, was back to celebrate process improvement and skill-building in the agency. Pres. Mabe was co-speaker at the event's TOP Awards that honored innovation, customer service, heroism and so much more in ODOT. He thanked ODOT union members for keeping the State running through good times and bad and urged higher penalties for Move Over violations that endanger highway workers. See photos from Team Up ODOT.
The statewide ODOT Roadeo was also held that day. ODOT Roadeos are more than just a fun tests of abilities; these equipment contests show our communities how truly skilled our union brothers and sisters are at the work they do. See all the Roadeo winners.
