OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / JANUARY 22, 2025

We're excited to announce that your new OCSEA Union Membership Card is coming soon and will have some really great updates!

 

For the first time in OCSEA's history, your annual union card will be made of durable plastic so you can easily place it in a billfold, wallet or badge holder without wear and tear. The card will include your name, chapter, OCSEA ID and local president, as usual, but will also include resources about your union benefits and important contact information.

 

Additionally, the card will be sent in a mailer separate from the OCSEA union magazine. It has been our tradition for decades to send your annual union membership card with the OCSEA Public Employee Quarterly; however, that will change this year. Look for a special mailer with your card and important union information being sent to your home address in February. 

 

To ensure you receive your OCSEA membership card, double check your contact information today. Visit your MyOCSEA profile HERE and make sure your address, email and phone number are up-to-date. Or contact the OCSEA Membership Resource Center at 888-627-3211 (888-OCSEA-11) or MRC@ocsea.org.

 

Please be advised that OCSEA union membership cards are only issued once annually. If you misplace your card, do not receive a card for whatever reason (e.g., bad address) or are a new hire after the cards are sent out, you can request that a copy of your card be sent to your home. This will be a copy only. Plastic cards will be issued only once at the beginning of the year.

Registration is now open for OCSEA's annual Committee on Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference, which will take place on Friday, March 21 and Saturday March 22. The main conference will take place throughout the day on that Saturday. Pre-conference events including contract training and early check-in will take place on that Friday evening. The conference is at The Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel, 409 Altair Parkway, Westerville, Ohio 43082. 

Visit OCSEA.org/CMCA to download the conference registration form, to get instructions on registration, to view the Conference Call mailed to subordinate body presidents last week and to get the link to make hotel reservations. More information on New Contract Training sign ups will be coming soon.

The conference theme is “Planting the Seeds for the Future,” focusing on building tools and skills to grow the labor movement in the future.

Register

Mark your Calendars for these upcoming 2025 OCSEA conferences and events: 

• Committee on Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference - Columbus - March 21 -22
• Women's Action Committee (WAC) Conference - Toledo - May 2-3
• Stewards Conference - Columbus - June 6-7
• OCSEA Biennial Convention - Cleveland - August 27-30
• Veterans Committee Conference - November - Location & date to be determined

The 2024-2027 OCSEA State of Ohio Contract is available online for download in the OCSEA Contract Toolbox. Please stay tuned to this e-newsletter and ocsea.org for updates on when printed copies of the contracts will be distributed to members. Hard-copy contracts ARE NOT yet available.

Contract Toolbox

Download Contract (PDF)

Eligible Members and their families can maximize their time and tuition benefits through the Discount College U-LEARN program. This program is available to NEW students only.

 

OCSEA members and their families who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree can maximize their time and tuition benefits through the Franklin University U-LEARN program. In addition to free books, members and anyone in their family can take unlimited associate- or bachelor’s-level courses for just $5,250 per calendar year.

 

Additionally, OCSEA members may be eligible to use their **Union Education Trust (UET) benefits while participating in this program, which can result in little to no out-of-pocket education costs. Each course taken through the U-Learn Program is billed at the standard rate per class until the $5,250 maximum is met. Billing for coursework prior to meeting the maximum may be eligible for a UET voucher or reimbursement. To learn more about your union education assistance program through the UET, visit uedtrust.org. 

 

Complete a quick pathway to U-Learn form HERE and attend a 20-minute webinar to learn more about the program.

 

Want to learn about ALL of your Union Discount College options?  GO HERE. Complete the "Request MyMatch" form to see which online union discount college is best for you and the members of your family. 

**NOTE: UET is only available to OCSEA bargaining unit members who fall under an OCSEA State of Ohio Contract. UET is NOT available to family members.