Special Election Issue 1: A Direct Attack on Democracy
Issue 1, formerly HJR 1/SJR 2, is an attack on the principle of one person, one vote and majority rule. Not only would it allow 40 percent of citizens to veto something the majority wants, it would also nearly eliminate a union's ability to put a citizen-led initiative on the ballot.
That’s why almost every union in the state is opposing Issue 1 on August 8. In fact, Dorsey Hager, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Ohio Building Trades spoke to nearly 350 OCSEA activists this past weekend at the Stewards Conference, telling them that labor hasn’t been this united in opposition since the Senate Bill 5 days. He also said that extreme legislators at the Statehouse are turning this state into an anti-union state and that they must be stopped before it's too late.
Issue 1 is extreme! It changes a provision that has been in Ohio’s Constitution for 110 years. And, it would increase the threshold for passage of any citizen-led ballot initiative to 60 percent from the simple majority it is now.
It’s already extremely difficult to get an initiative on the ballot. Many OCSEA activists remember going door-to-door to get signatures for weeks on end against Senate Bill 5. Back then, you only had to get the required number of signatures in 44 counties. Under Issue 1, you’d have to get signatures in all 88 counties to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
This change would all but ensure that only billionaire-funded special interests with deep pockets could afford to put something on the ballot-––not grassroots citizens or union members like us.
It’s so unpopular that NO on Issue 1 already has wide bipartisan support. In fact, four former Ohio Governors and five former Attorney Generals have come out against it.
But the only way we can defeat this is to VOTE!!! Please join us at the ballot box on August 8. Let’s ensure everyday citizens still have access to the ballot, that our voices are heard, that we are still One Person, One Vote!!! Please join us in voting NO on ISSUE 1 on August 8.
Annual steward conference sees record attendance, focuses on union building and education
Nearly 350 OCSEA stewards and leaders gathered this past weekend for the annual OCSEA Steward Conference. New and experienced union activists from across Ohio joined in person and online via Zoom to grow their local chapters and foster their union representation skills. Over 200 members travelled from every area of the state to attend in-person. Additionally, 130 or so members attended the conference online via Zoom. See photos from the event: Facebook | Instagram
Attendees participated in trainings and discussions on a variety of issues including developing grievance skills and building multi-generational strength throughout their union and workplaces.
Guest presenter Rick Bales, an Ohio arbitrator, and Ohio Northern University law professor, held two sessions at the event. The first session focused on holding grievance hearings including assembling documents, preparing witnesses, developing strategy and much more. The second session homed in on developing burden of proof within a labor arbitration scenario. Arbitrator Bales walked through several hypothetical scenarios with attendees.
Guest speakers Joe Trejo and Joe Wilson, both Commissioners with the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, spoke on generations in the workplace. Through humor and tolerance, their presentation helped union leaders gain a better understanding of themselves and others by looking at different generational values and expectations; addressing different generational methods of communication and conflict resolution; and ways to promote better working relationships and organizational effectiveness.
Were you unable to attend but looking for more information? See the presentations below:
New stewards shine at annual conference
During the OCSEA Steward Conference, we couldn't help but share stories of some of our new union stewards, soon-to-be stewards and the union leaders beaming with pride about their new activists.
This includes Generation Z member Lucas Preston-Colvin, a brand-new steward since March who is ready to represent his brothers and sisters in ODOT District 2 in Wood County. He came to his first ever Steward Conference to take back some knowledge to District 2 for ODOT, said Lucas.
Chapters went above and beyond this year, bringing more new and emerging stewards than ever before. Belmont Correctional Chapter 710 brought an astounding 11 members to the event, and the Gallipolis Developmental Center Chapter leaders were excited to introduce their chapter's three new stewards. Click the links right to get to know some of these new activists.
Meet some new stewards. Click the links below to get to know some of them:
Member’s daughter walks down the graduation aisle
Brian Miller’s 29-year-old daughter, Salena Clark, is married and has been busy raising three kids. She’s also been busy getting her associate degree at Eastern Gateway Community College in Business Management and Medicine.
Brian, a Correction Officer and chapter president at Marion Correctional Institution, attended her graduation this past weekend and took his three grandchildren so they could see what their Mom had been working on for the past several years.
A stay-at-home mom, now Salena has her degree when she’s ready to venture into the workforce, according to her union Dad. “I’m very proud of her to be able to start and complete this degree. Everybody knows the wild world we live in and trying to raise three kids and have a family and go to school is quite difficult,” Brian said. “It means a lot to me. I’m very, very proud of her to be able to finish it,” he beamed.
Congratulations Salena and all our union grads out there! Do you have a union graduation story to share? Tell us all about it at communications@ocsea.org.
Pride at Work: Fighting for all, zero room for hate
It's Pride Month, and for us that means fighting for ALL working people. And the best tool we have is a union contract. Union contracts are legally enforceable, and they protect LGBTQ+ workers from harassment, and can mean real progress for workers and our families to gain health care, savings, a future, and so much more. When you have a union, there is ZERO room for hate in our movement meant to protect every worker.
Want to get involved in the labor movement's LGBTQ+ movement? Pride At Work is the AFL-CIO's platform representing LGBTQ+ union members and their allies. The group helps to provide mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ+ Community to further social and economic justice. Learn more and get involved today at prideatwork.org.
Member-only discounts: Take me out to the ballgame
Get off the sidelines and into the stands. Enjoy exclusive discounts for members only on everything from professional sports to live bands and even Broadway! This is made possible because you are a union member thanks to the AFL-CIO's Union Plus discount program through Abenity.
This includes discounts for Major League Baseball games, including the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. To get started, create your Union Plus/Abenity member-only account HERE. When asked for your union, choose AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees).
While there, check out all the all the event deals, including shows, concerts, movie tickets, additional sporting events and more.
MLB Deals
Summer Break Deals
All Union Plus Deals