OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / DECEMBER 11, 2024

OCSEA's 12 Days of Christmas, the annual holiday celebration of OCSEA members, is about to wrap up. The raffle drawings will continue every day through this Friday, December 13. Good luck to all and congrats to our 10 winners picked to date!

This festive 12 days of raffle prize drawings is the perfect way to say THANK YOU to our active union members this holiday season. As public employees, you give so much of yourselves to Ohio and throughout our communities! We say thank you this holiday season, and will will continue to fight to protect and support you and the public services you provide all year long.

OCSEA's 12 Days of Christmas
December 2 - December 13

One raffle prize per day will be awarded to one active OCSEA member starting Monday, December 2 and each day for the 11 days that follow through Friday, December 13.

No entry is necessary. You only have to be an active OCSEA member in good-standing to be entered. If you’re an active OCSEA member (any state or local government member), you will be automatically entered into the daily drawings.

Daily winners will be contacted at the phone number and email on file with the union. The winners will also be announced on the OCSEA website at OCSEA.org/12DaysofChristmas.

OCSEA President Chris Mabe was interviewed recently by Channel 5 in Cleveland about continuing problems at the Indian River Department of Youth Services (DYS) facility. The lengthy investigative report detailed ongoing staffing shortages at Indian River that have led to violent attacks on Juvenile Corrections Officers. The report highlighted how the situation has not gotten better over the past year and that the plan to build smaller DYS facilities is “too little too late” without investing in more staffing. 

The end of the year is the perfect time to think about your educational goals for the New Year. Just a reminder, you have just over 6 months to use this fiscal year's Union Education Trust (UET) educational funds that you receive simply for being an OCSEA union member. Included in ALL State of Ohio OCSEA-negotiated contracts, eligible State bargaining unit employees can get up to $8,000 each year in union benefits for education and training! UET provides financial assistance to pay tuition and mandatory fees. Visit uedtrust.org to learn how to enroll today. 

Here's what your UET benefit provides for you annually from July 1 to June 30: 

Career Improvement Program (CIP): $5,000 per fiscal year for vocational training, trade skills, college degree, tuition assistance, information technology, and distance learning.

Professional Enhancement (PE): $2,000 per fiscal year for workshops, conferences, seminars, professional development, continuing education, online classes and more.

Computer Application Training (CAT): $1,000 per fiscal year for education and business software, operating systems, spreadsheets, database training and more. 

Gift yourself an education at uedtrust.org

Knox-Licking Chapter 4500 is giving back by starting new charitable traditions this holiday season. Chapter President Candy Shoemaker says the chapters  adopted a child for Christmas, bought Kroger gift cards for families in need, and held a winter clothing drive. Way to give back Chapter 4500!

Photographed from left to right: Scott Clayton, Secretary; Candy Shoemaker, President; Scott Fritchlee, E-Board;  Ben Stamper, Vice President

Find that perfect holiday gift that carries a union label and is made in America. Visit https://aflcio.org/MadeInAmerica/holiday-gifts for so many union-made gift ideas. Scroll the AFL-CIO Holiday Gift Guide for many different categories from apparel to games and more.

Shipping gifts this year? Make sure to ship using a union carrier like the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or UPS.