THE OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / JANUARY 12, 2023
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Reconnect with your union, reconnect with your union contract
Did you know that your State union contract expires next winter 2024? That's right, your union contract, the big book that lays out your union-negotiated wages, health care, health and safety and so much more, will be negotiated beginning at the end of this year. We can hardly believe it's almost bargaining time again too. Did you also know that your union contract Bargaining Team is made up of union members just like you and will be elected this fall? There's a lot of preparation that goes into building a strong union team and strong union representation, so we hope you will be involved in the process as much as possible, including supporting your elected Bargaining Team every step of the way and giving your input about your contract! Stay tuned to these emails about all the ways you can get involved in bargaining (because it's seriously going to take EVERY union member!)
Get to know your union contract
There are probably a lot of union members out there, through no fault of their own, who have never opened their union contract. So, take some time this year to learn more about your contract and all that it has to offer. The more you know about your union contract, the stronger we are as a union and the more leverage we have at the bargaining table. Download and read your union contract in the OCSEA Toolbox. And make sure you share this link with at least ONE union co-worker and begin a discussion about what it means to have a strong union contract. (For a quick primer, go to our contract highlights from the Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway).
Take a union training
We also urge every member to resolve to take at least ONE union contract training this year. Most of OCSEA's contract trainings are open to ALL members, not just union stewards. This includes Basic Steward Training. Don't let the name fool you. While it is a stepping stone for those members who want to become a union steward, it is also a great opportunity for ANY member to learn more about the union contract. Here are a list of a few OCSEA trainings that are available to members:
- Basic/Advanced Steward
- Evidence/Investigatory
- Pre-Discipline
- FMLA
- Using Facebook for Local Chapters
- WOC (Working Out of Class)
Interested in attending a training? Contact your local chapter leaders and ask what trainings are available to you and your union co-workers. Or reach out to your OCSEA Staff Representative and discuss how you can bring more trainings to your chapter.
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Why the state budget matters
Ohio's public employees know better than anyone that we need to invest in state agencies and public services so that we can do the most good for the most people. This includes OCSEA members like you, all of whom are government employees whose good work and public resources Ohioans depend on every single day. And in order for you to do your job, you need a strongly-funded state budget!
Every two years, our elected representatives in Columbus have an opportunity to create a state budget that invests in public services. Between now and the end of June (see timeline to the right), the governor and the Ohio House and Senate will make major decisions about what the state budget will look like beginning July 1, 2023. Those decisions affect every one of us. Not only do those we elected decide whether to use our budget to help all Ohioans have a brighter future, they also decide the literal value of each state agency, including yours!
Learn more about the state budget process with Policy Matters Ohio's State Budget 101. Get insight on the process, how it could impact state agencies, and, also, how you can take action for a budget that supports the necessary public services you provide.
Click to enlarge the budget timeline below. |
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Friday deadline: RSVP for January 17 Working-Out-of-Class training
All OCSEA members are invited to attend an online Working-Out-of-Class (WOC) grievance training on Tuesday, January 17 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Register by clicking the blue button below. The training will be held on Zoom. When you RSVP, you will receive a confirmation and meeting participation link. The training will last two hours and is being presented by OCSEA Paralegal Jennie Lewis. This OCSEA event counts toward certification of stewards. The deadline to register is this Friday, January 13.
The objective of the current WOC contract language is to ensure employees work within their appropriate classifications. The WOC language can be found in Article 19 of the OCSEA State Contract. This training will give members and their stewards the tools they need to know when it is appropriate to file a WOC grievance as well as how to work through the WOC grievance process.
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Get Cleveland Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse discounts for OCSEA members!
The New Year is here, and so are discounts to exciting sporting and other entertainment events at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. From NBA basketball to Disney on Ice, there are many member-only discounts for OCSEA members to enjoy. In addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there are also serious discounts to minor league Charge basketball and Monsters Ice Hockey games. And don't forget, there's still time left to see Disney on Ice: Frozen and Encanto for only $20 for shows that run through Sunday, January 15.
All can be purchased by going through your member-only OCSEA Extras site (login required) or through the direct link below using Code: OCSEA22. To purchase your discount tickets through ocsea.org/extras, scroll down through the Extras page to the Cleveland Cavaliers Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for all the details. Check out the other member-only discounts while you're there.