Union files motion to vacate Emergency Pay grievance award
Last week, OCSEA filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas a Motion to Vacate the arbitrator’s award on the union’s emergency pay grievance.
In its filing, the union argued that the arbitrator exceeded his authority by including pieces of the Department of Administrative Services’ agency policy in his decision to deny emergency pay that aren’t part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The arbitrator found that the State could opt out of paying the stipend by declaring an “emergency” instead of a “public safety emergency” and that a stipend wasn’t required if no employees were on administrative leave. The union argues that none of these reasons were in the Collective Bargaining Agreement under 13.15b and so the arbitrator went outside the CBA and exceeded his authority in rendering his decision.
If the judge rules in favor of the State, the decision will stand. If for the union, the parties could be headed back to arbitration or to mediation.
There is currently no timeline on this case from the court.
students URGED TO contact colleges as talks continue with EGCC and Dept of Education
The U.S Department of Education delayed a recent meeting with Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) to hash out the details of the Union Free College program. But it is believed talks will continue between the parties. In the meantime, OCSEA members and their families who have questions about fall enrollment should talk directly to Eastern Gateway, Central State and Paul Quinn. Specifically at this time, any questions current students have regarding Union Free College should be directed to EGCC, CSU and Paul Quinn advisors or the schools' financial aid offices to avoid any miscommunication or confusion.
The union website where OCSEA members and their families start the enrollment process will not be back online until all issues are hammered out between the parties.
OCSEA, Eastern Gateway and the other partner schools want a quick resolution to this, but it needs to be resolved methodically so that union members and families know exactly what is happening going forward.
OCSEA members who utilize the union-negotiated Union Education Trust (UET) should not be impacted and can attend Eastern Gateway or any regionally accredited school participating in the UET program. Members who have questions about their UET education contractual benefits should contact the UET directly a 1-866-436-7900.
Leaders hone skills, honor activist at Prez Conference
Around 200 OCSEA Chapter Presidents and activists gathered on Zoom for this year’s Presidents Conference. The conference is called on off-convention years in accordance with the OCSEA Constitution and By-Laws.
This year’s meet-up was filled with important workshops to hone both activist and elected leader skills. AFSCME International staff were joined by OCSEA staff in leading workshops on Telling Your Story and Statehouse Advocacy. Former State Senator Lou Gentile weighed in on effective ways to talk to your legislators. New Employee Orientation was led by part of the team at OCSEA's Member Resource Center and How to Chair a Meeting was brought to members by the current OCSEA Chair of the Judicial and Internal Affairs Committee, Tim McAllister.
Below, please find the presentations and supporting documents to all the workshops. To request trainings for your chapter assembly or district, please go to OCSEA’s website here: https://ocsea.org/calendar/request-training.
Telling Your Story
Statehouse Advocacy
New Employee Orientation
How to Chair a Meeting
Political Activity
London Chapter President Gary Willis wins Activist of the Year Award
Also, at the Presidents Conference this year, Gary Willis, President of Chapter 4900, London Correctional, was announced as the 2022 OCSEA Activist of the Year.
In 2020, OCSEA unveiled its first-ever “Activist of the Year Award.” The OCSEA Board of Directors' activism award was presented to and named for Phil Carter, an avid union activist in the Ohio Dept. of Transportation, for his dedicated service to OCSEA and the labor movement.
This year’s Activist of the Year was nominated by fellow Officer Yost, a Visitation Officer and OCSEA Chapter 4900 Vice President at London Correctional Institution. In his nomination letter to the OCSEA Public Affairs Committee, Yost said at London Correctional, they’ve had a pretty rough year. From unit closures to an insurmountable amount of discipline and overtime, it’s union leaders like Officer Willis who will always have our backs. It’s also leaders like this one who have been the driving spear in keeping up moral at his institution and at institutions around the state.
Gary Willis has not only worked tirelessly for his members throughout the pandemic and beyond, but his never quit attitude is also a beacon of hope for his membership. He takes his position of Chapter President very seriously. He makes sure that his membership is empowered and knowledgeable and that he lends an ear to anyone who needs to talk. He’s even taken money out of his own pocket to pay for necessary equipment or even quality meals for his members who have been mandated. Officer Willis is a shining example of what it means to be UNION.