OCSEA and AFSCME are encouraging all members, particularly those who
would be impacted in Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services, to contact their representatives in
Congress NOW and ask that they support Congressional action to
prevent the privatization of Employment Service.
The employment services work that OCSEA members do in ODJFS is important work! These essential state services get Ohioans the training and job skills they need to get back to work and keep the economy growing for all. This includes much needed services to our veterans returning to work.
But these essential services could be upended as the U.S. Dept. of Labor is proposing (AGAIN) to revise the operations
of State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) funded through the Wagner-Peyser Act. The harmful proposal removes the state employee “merit staffing” requirement of
the Employment Service (ES) and would open the door widely for
privatization and the erosion of job-seeker services. These services are provided by ODJFS federally-funded employment
services staff (our brothers and sisters) right here in Ohio.
This dangerous proposal would eliminate good Ohio jobs and contract
out employment services for less pay and inferior benefits; reduce
services for Ohio’s unemployed workers and weaken connections for those
job-seekers; result in an inferior employment services system; and open
the door for the privatization of all other federally-funded programs.
TAKE ACTION NOW by writing to your member of Congress.