Apply for the OCSEA scholarship! Get college money for dependents, spouse...and you!
It's OCSEA Les Best Scholarship time! And that means money for college for Ohio's hard-working public employee union members and their families. Each year, OCSEA’s Les Best Scholarship program awards a total of $12,000 in scholarships to OCSEA dues-paying members as well as their spouses and dependents.* This scholarship program is another great benefit of being a union member, because it puts money directly into the hands of union families.
Applying for the scholarship is a simple process, and applications can be downloaded at OCSEA.org/lesbest. All application materials must be mailed back to OCSEA by April 30.
Veterans Home Georgetown helps feed vets; Mansfield chapter raises funds for charity
This holiday season, OCSEA chapters stepped up in a big way to help those in need in their communities.
Not only was Georgetown Veterans Home Chapter 800 working hard keeping members informed about negotiations over the holiday, the chapter was also busy collecting over 350 canned goods plus other food items to stock the Brown County Veterans Service food pantry. The chapter also donated a check for $500 to the Brown County Humane Society to help with medical services and supplies. “It was just a small way our Chapter 800 tried to give back to our community,” said chapter president Jeff Condo.
Meanwhile, Chapter 7000 in Richland County continued their history of giving by raising $1,500 for their county United Way during their holiday party. Alan Koser, the chapter treasurer, said their United Way helps boost educational opportunities for children as well as economic and health solutions for families in this Central Ohio region.
Way to go, OCSEA chapters, making an impact where it’s needed!
Tell us how your chapter or you personally gave back to your community this holiday season at laborgivesback@ocsea.org. Send photos if possible!
Members of Georgetown Chapter 800 Veterans Home collected more than 350 canned goods and other food items for the Brown County Veterans Service food pantry to help veterans.
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Richland Chapter 7000 raised $1,500 at their holiday party for Richland County United Way.
Bargaining gets underway next week; Wednesday Solidarity Days kick off
State contract bargaining kicks off again next with the team heading to the table with management to discuss proposals and to fight off unreasonable takeaways that management has proposed.
“Management’s proposals fly in the face of what they said was most important, which was to recruit and retain employees,” said OCSEA President and Chief Negotiator Chris Mabe. “Not only that, management is trying to chip away at the very foundation of our contract, the items that have built this union and state employment. These are the things that have protected us and kept us safe,” said Mabe in an update to members on Dec. 14.
As we head into the New Year, the support of every single state member is critical to let management know that takeaways in this current climate will not be accepted. OCSEA's Pledge Card Drive is one way to show solidarity at the table. The Pledge OCSEA Card Drive runs through January 12. If you haven't signed a Pledge Card yet, contact your chapter president ASAP to sign. These signed cards will be presented in the OCSEA union hall as bargaining begins next week.
Solidarity Wednesdays
Another way to show support for the Bargaining Team is for chapters and members to participate in Solidarity Wednesdays. Yes, it seems simple, but showing management that you support your Bargaining Team 100% is dire to fight back against management's proposed takeaways!
Here's how Solidarity Wednesdays work. Every Wednesday throughout bargaining, wear an OCSEA shirt or green attire, whether at the office or at home. And encourage other union co-workers to do the same to show we stand together for a fair contract! Share this flyer to spread the word.
Other Wednesday Solidarity Ideas include:
- Holding chapter solidarity events during the lunch hour and before or after work/shifts;
- Dedicating chapter meetings to building support around bargaining and union power at work;
- Decorating cubicles, work spaces & union offices to show support (yes, it’s ok to hang bargaining signs in these areas!);
- Taking photos of solidarity events and sharing on social media #FightingToWin or emailing photos to communications@ocsea.org;
- Downloading items from the Bargaining Toolkit to help build support;
- Being creative as a chapter to come up with unique ways to show support for the Team!
Want bargaining updates? OCSEA.org/bargaining
Sign up for mobile alerts: Text OCSEA2024 to 237-263
New Year. New Contract. Make resolutions to build union solidarity and contract support
Are you ready to kick off the New Year right? How about resolving to build union solidarity and support for a fair contract in 2024.
Solidarity Resolutions:
- Support the OCSEA Bargaining Team. This includes showing solid support by signing the OCSEA Solidarity Pledge Cards. The Pledge Card Drive runs through January 12. If you haven't signed a Pledge Card yet, contact your chapter president ASAP to sign. These signed cards will be displayed in the OCSEA union hall as bargaining begins next week.
- Attend chapter meetings. Being involved in your union on the local level is KEY to building solidarity and union power. Attending meetings helps you get involved and use YOUR skills to grow your workplace and union for the better. Contact the OCSEA MRC 888-OCSEA-11 or MRC@OCSEA.org if you need info on your chapter and officers.
- Read your union contract. A strong union membership is an informed union membership. This includes understanding the ins and outs of your union contract so that you can speak up for yourself and others. As the OCSEA Bargaining Team heads to the negotiations table next week, we urge members to start reading the union contract and talking with union leaders and union co-workers about what that negotiated language means to you! Download it at OCSEA.org/Toolbox.
- Spread the word about union power. This means talking to union co-workers (and even managers who are willing to listen) about what a union contract means for everyone. A unified voice on the job through a union contract empowers all workers (even non-union), raises wages and benefits for all, and improves working conditions for all workers. Participating in Solidarity Wednesdays is a great way to spread solidarity.
As contract bargaining continues, it's the perfect time to spread the word about standing up for the OCSEA bargaining team and fighting for a fair contract. Learn more at OCSEA.org/bargaining.
Mark calendars for retirement planning training, 2024 conferences
Save the dates now for upcoming OCSEA events including the Union Education Trust's Planning Your Retirement training and upcoming OCSEA annual conferences.
Planning Your Retirement
RSVP today for the Union Education Trust (UET) Planning Your Retirement Training being held at OCSEA Headquarters March 22-23. The training is open to ALL active OCSEA bargaining unit members. It will aid members and their spouses or significant others in developing a personalized action plan toward achieving their retirement goals.
2024 Conference Schedule
- Women's Action Committee/Committee on Minority & Community Affairs JOINT Conference: May 3-4 in Sandusky
- Stewards Conference: June 8 in Columbus
- Presidents Conference: September 14 in Columbus
- Veterans Conference: November 1-2 (location TBD)
New Year Union Bulletin Board flyers available for download
The January 2024 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. The New Year is the perfect time to update and refresh your onsite union bulletin boards. We encourage chapters to add the following flyers and decorate their bulletin boards in support of the OCSEA Bargaining Team. The January flyers include important bargaining news including information on Solidarity Wednesdays, the Bargaining "To Do" list and Solidarity New Years Resolutions. Check back each month for new flyers to share. Have a bulletin board you want to share? Email photos to communications@ocsea.org.
Don't have an onsite bulletin board? The virtual bulletin board network at OCSEA.org/UBBN gives OCSEA members access to union flyers with a click of a button. This includes quick access to OCSEA bargaining news, events, discounts and more. Chapters who don't have boards are urged to email the flyers or UBBN link to their members and distribute at meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.
This month's virtual fliers include:
- Solidarity Wednesdays to Support the OCSEA Bargaining Team
- Bargaining To Do List
- New Year, New Contract Resolutions
- OCSEA Les Best Scholarship - accepting applications now!
- Planning Your Retirement Training
- OCSEA Discount College benefit
- Buy Union!
- Working Advantage benefit - enroll now!
- Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse deals and discounts