Your union newsletter - March 8, 2023

Posted Mar. 8, 2023 by OCSEA

Let's talk about the REAL value of being union

You probably already know of at least one anti-union group out there claiming that unions have no value and that they're a waste of your time. In fact, one of these groups (we're not gonna name names) spends millions of dollars, just here in Ohio alone, on mailers and emails (using your personal data) to spread huge lies about union members and public sector employees. But we know better.

There is so much value in being a union member, not just in our daily lives but over our lifetimes. Over a 30 year career alone, the average union member will make over a quarter of a million dollars more* than their nonunion counterparts. That doesn't even count the health care and benefits savings. Being union has real value, and the numbers tell the story.

Last week, as we kicked off Women's History Month, we were reminded of the real value that being in a union has in our lives, and in the lives of women and families. Union women make $214 more per week than their nonunion counterparts (that's over $10,000 more a year!). For some women, this could mean the difference between owning their own home and building equity or continuing to throw their paychecks away on rent. Being union also closes the wage gap for union workers of color. African Americans who belong to a union make nearly 40 percent more than their nonunion counterparts. Hispanic union members make 26 percent more than their union counterparts.

And, the numbers don't lie for union workers across the board. Union members as a whole make more money, have access to more reliable health care coverage and are able to retire with financial security. Because we are able to sit down with management to negotiate our contracts, and because we stand together, we almost universally make more money and have better benefits.

Being union means:

The median earnings of union workers is $748 more PER MONTH than nonunion workers*;
In the public sector, where unionization is higher, 92 percent of workers have a pension that allows them to retire with dignity. ONLY 15 percent of workers in the private sector have a pension;
An astounding 94 percent of union workers have access to employer-sponsored health care, as compared to just 68 percent of nonunion workers.

Because we stand together, we have the power to negotiate for the wages and benefits we have earned. In addition, unions help raise wages and benefits not just for those INSIDE the union, but for others outside it as well. Unions set the bar for the rest of employees (e.g., exempt and management employees) and for every single worker across the nation.

And, let's not forget about the perks of having a lot of really great union friends who have our backs on the job! As contract bargaining of the State of Ohio contract begins later this year, we must be more unified than ever! Contact the OCSEA Member Resource Center at 888-OCSEA11 or MRC@ocsea.org today to see how YOU can get more involved in your local chapter and how you can support your Member Negotiations Team when they head to the table with management.

*Wage data based on Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

CMCA Conference deadline is THIS Friday, March 10

There are only a few days left to register for the OCSEA Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference. All registration forms and payment must be returned to OCSEA Headquarters by this Friday, March 10. The Conference is March 17-18 in Cincinnati and is sponsored by the OCSEA CMCA Committee.

The conference venue is at The Summit A Dolce Hotel, located at 5345 Medpace Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227. Parking for the event is free. NOTE: The hotel room booking deadline has passed and there are no more rooms available. Backup hotels are: The Hampton Inn Kenwood and the Mariemont Inn Best Western.

Get all conference information, including a tentative agenda, visit OCSEA.org/CMCA.

REGISTER

Drop off registration forms and payment:

OCSEA Headquarters
390 Worthington Rd., Suite A
Westerville, OH 43082

Release Time

If you require Release Time for this event, request the release by close of business tomorrow, March 9 by emailing aharrington@ocsea.org. This allows time for OCSEA Central Office to submit release requests. Please note, Release Time is not guaranteed.

Women's History Month

How has being union impacted your life as a woman? Tell your story so we can inspire others this Women's History Month and beyond! Tell Your Story!

Click to share and learn more about Penny's story as we celebrate Women in Construction Week

Download the latest virtual union bulletin board

The March 2023 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) fliers are now available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. The virtual bulletin board gives OCSEA members access to union fliers with a click of a button. With some members continuing to telework, many working hybrid and others working 100% on site, the UBBN fliers give OCSEA members access to important union information. This includes OCSEA events, discounts and more.

This month's virtual fliers include information on OCSEA's Les Best Scholarship program and discounts on spring getaways. Chapters are urged to place these fliers on their workplace bulletin boards, where applicable, and distribute at meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.

DOWNLOAD UBBNs

Take action to protect our rails

The Ohio AFL-CIO is asking for your help to ensure that rail safety in Ohio is a top priority. The environmental catastrophe in East Palestine and now the derailment in Springfield this past weekend is shining a spotlight on the fact the railroad industry is under-regulated, and we should do more to keep workers and our communities safe.

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives took the first steps in keeping our rails safe when they passed House Bill 23, the Transportation budget, with bipartisan support. The budget includes two common sense rail safety amendments, but your help is needed in making sure that these safety measures remain in the bill as the transportation budget is being debated in the Ohio Senate.

Click below to email your state Senator and say VOTE FOR the Transportation Budget WITH the rail safety items included.