Last day: State Health Care Open enrollment ends Tonight at 11:59 PM
Don't forget, if you need to enroll in or make changes to your State health care plan, the deadline to do so is TONIGHT: Wednesday, May 25, by 11:59 p.m. The State of Ohio Health Care Open Enrollment period covers the benefit year that begins July 1, 2022 and runs through June 30, 2023.
Get the DAS MyBenefits Guide, HERE.
The good news is this year there will be no changes to employees’ out-of-pocket costs for their current health care plan, according to the Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC). This includes NO premium increase. Read more about that on the union's website.
UBT Dental, vision and More enrollment also ends tonight
Open enrollment for your union-negotiated Union Benefits Trust (UBT) premium-free dental, vision and life insurance benefits also ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. This includes enrollment in the NEW Voluntary Supplemental Benefit Plans through Prudential. The voluntary benefit offers Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Insurance coverages. Eligible OCSEA members should visit the Union Benefits Trust (UBT) website at BenefitsTrust.org to enroll in, review and/or update your UBT benefits coverage. UBT coverage is a premium FREE benefit, thanks to the OCSEA contract, that is maintained by the union for union members.
Emergency Pay! Have you taken action yet? Write a letter & plan for upcoming rally
OCSEA members are still reeling from the May 16 decision by an arbitrator to side with management. OCSEA members are angry about this slap in the face for Ohio’s essential public workers who worked through the pandemic and made sacrifice after sacrifice. And rightfully so.
Let's show management that we are strong and united and we are not taking this decision lying down! Write Gov. DeWine and DAS and tell them to PAY Ohio's State Employees now! There will also be a Statehouse rally in June to take a stand for our union contract and demand management give us the respect we deserve! Please watch this space for more details about the rally soon.
Management is calling this decision a “win," which is crazy and just bad PR! Not only is this a loss for Ohio public employment and for staff retention, it's a major loss for the essential employees who made daily sacrifices and who just want to move on from this nightmare.
It's time to end this nightmare! The State of Ohio can do the right thing, right now! The State has the ability to pay a stipend to employees right now for their heroism and make state employees whole. Not only is there American Rescue Plan money, but April 2022 was the highest revenue intake on record for the State of Ohio, at $3.3 billion. That is $1 billion more than anticipated, a 45.6% increase over the planned estimate. Additionally, the State currently has a $2.5 billion (12%) surplus OVER their estimate.
RSVP now for June 4 Steward Conference at Deer Creek Lodge
OCSEA's Steward Conference will take place in-person on Saturday June 4 at Deer Creek State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place INDOORS at the Deer Creek Lodge. Social distancing protocols will be in place and masks will be encouraged but optional. A virtual option to attend on Zoom is also available. RSVP online now. Through the Zoom RSVP link, you will have the option to choose whether you will be 1) attending in-person or 2) attending virtually.
Every steward and leader is highly encouraged to attend the conference, especially as we continue to have important, yet difficult conversations about how we, all together, can fight to protect the union contract from constant attacks and erosion. Get more conference details and updates at OCSEA.org/StewardConference.
Interested in more events? OCSEA's Women's Action Committee (WAC) Conference will take place on Friday, June 10 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Zoom. This event is 100% virtual as well. Register at this Zoom link. The deadline to register is May 27 in order to request release time for this event.
Local chapter activism at work
Chapter gives thanks, coffee to hard working union members
Chapter 800 Ohio Veterans Home in Southern Ohio recognized its members during Nursing Home Week, May 8-14, by bringing in a coffee truck. OVH employees in Batavia and Sandusky have been plagued by overtime due to short staffing. “This was just a small token of our appreciation of our members,” said Chapter President Jeff Condo.
CDC chapter promotes union pride at work
Hilltop Chapter 2509
President Cheryle Mason
and her local union team held
a union meet-and-greet for
union brothers and sisters at
the Columbus Developmental
Center. The mission? To introduce
new and younger members
to the benefits of the union and
to remind all members about the
power that comes with having
a union voice on the job. “WE are the union, all of us
who work here, and the way
we’re going to keep making
any change at all is by sticking
together,” say Cheryle.
Bike-a-palooza: Mansfield unionists support local kids
Union leaders in OCSEA District 3, Richland Chapter 7000 and ManCI Chapter 7010 donated five bikes to the Bike-A-Palooza event put on by the Mansfield Police Department (MPD) for area kids on May 21. The ManCI Honor Guard, all Union members, worked the event with the MPD just as they have done over the past few years. Pictured from left are OCSEA members of the Mansfield Correctional Honor Guard: Matt Sheppard, Corey Wenzel and Dan Newberry. “I believe the best part of this is that District 3, Richland 7000 and ManCI 7010 all came together to show our support for the kids in our community. It’s everything to see the smiles on the boys and girls faces that left that day with new bikes,” said ManCI Chapter 7010 President Carl VanBibber.
Get Zoombezi bay 1/2 price tickets now for june
Save now! Splash later! discount tickets to Zoombezi Bay are on sale now! OCSEA members get half-off the price of water park tickets NOW through June 3, 2022. Please NOTE: The 1/2 price tickets can be purchased right now, but they are only valid for entrance on the following dates: June 1 through June 30, 2022! Ticket price also includes entrance into the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.
Get the full details and access to ALL summer discounts at ocsea.org/familyfun (Member login required). Looking for even more? Check out the year-round member discounts and deals at OCSEA.org/Extras (Member login also required).