Doing our part to protect road workers: April 11-15 is National Workzone Awareness Week
Spring break and summer vacations mean more drivers are hitting the roads. It's also the start of construction season and spring road maintenance, meaning more and more of our brothers and sisters are working along our highways. This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), an annual spring campaign
held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones. As drivers who share the roadways with our highway workers, there is so much we all can do to keep workers safe as we get where we're going. REMEMBER: Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down. And, getting somewhere faster is never worth the cost of a human life.
Learn more about the National Work Zone Awareness Week national campaign HERE to keep our road workers safe and alive at the end of the work day. See how you can participate in events, including a moment of silence on Friday and social media events to raise awareness.
"Struck-by" injuries are a leading cause of death on our roadways, and since 1992 the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry. The National Stand Down encourages employers and workers to pause voluntarily during the workday for safety demonstrations, training in hazard recognition and fall prevention, and talks about hazards, protective methods and your employer's safety policies and expectations. A perfect resource for our labor/management health and safety teams, resources to conduct your own Stand Down can be found at CPWR.com/research/work-zone-safety.
Upcoming OCSEA Minority and WOMEN'S Conferences taking place on zoom
The dates for the OCSEA's Committee on Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) and Women's Action Committee (WAC) conferences have been announced. The two conferences will take place virtually on Zoom. All members are encouraged to attend and learn how union rights positively impact our minority workers and their communities.
SAVE THE DATES:
- Committee on Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference- Friday, May 20
- Women's Action Committee (WAC) Conference - Friday, June 10
Stay tuned for information on registration for these virtual events. All OCSEA members can register to attend.
Member-only discount: Columbus Crew offering 30% off
The Columbus Crew national soccer club is offering an exclusive discount to OCSEA/AFSCME members on select games throughout the 2022 season. Crew games are held at the state-of-the-art Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus.
Columbus Crew Discount Ticket Offer:
30% off for AFSCME members for the following games this season:
- Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United | Sat., Apr. 30, 2022 • 7:30 p.m.
- Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union | Sat., July 3, 2022 • 7:30 p.m.
- Columbus Crew vs. CF Montreal | Wed., August 3, 2022 • 7:30 p.m.
- Columbus Crew vs. Portland Timbers | Sun., Sept. 18, 2022 • 1 p.m.
Share with co-workers: Download the Crew games 30% discount flier HERE.
Additional member-only sporting event offers: OCSEA.org/EXTRAS
Columbus Clippers:
- Wednesday Dollar Day Deals:
Every Wednesday between now and September 14, 2022, OCSEA members have access to discount tickets to the Columbus Clippers games. Tickets available for $8! Additional Public Service Wednesday Promotions: Dollar Days (4-5 concession items priced at $1 a piece)
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Cincinnati Reds
- Get exclusive discounts for select Cincinnati Reds games throughout the 2022 season! Tickets start as low $12.91.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
ICYMI! Ohio House Committee Vote on Dental Bill postponed, Keep sending emails
Because of the activism of OCSEA members, a vote on the dangerous dental bill expected last week in the Ohio House Insurance Committee was postponed. Approximately 250 letters were sent by OCSEA members to Committee members detailing how increases in dental costs would impact their lives and their families. Activists should continue to send letters to members of the committee by clicking HERE.
Ohio House Bill 344, if passed, would prevent dental insurance providers from negotiating lower fees for non-covered services for their members. The proposed legislation would give dentists the power to charge members more money for non-covered services. While this directly impacts OCSEA members who utilize the Union Benefits Trust (UBT), ALL Ohioans with dental insurance would be impacted. Uncapping fixed dental fees for non-covered services will send dental service prices soaring for OCSEA members and EVERY Ohioan with dental insurance.
At this time, it appears there weren't enough votes to move the bill forward from the Committee to the full House, and that's because of the efforts of OCSEA activists like you and the letters of opposition that were sent. But that could change. Please continue to stay vigilant. Don't forget: when you talk, they listen! We're hoping this bill stops here. Stay tuned for any updates.
