Member appreciation 12 Days of Christmas starts Monday, Dec 4
It's that time of year again! That's right! It's OCSEA's 12 Days of Christmas! Not only is this festive 12 days of prize raffles the perfect way to say thank you to our proud union members this holiday season, but it will also be reminder of the value that comes with being in a union and standing in solidarity as we head into state contract bargaining! OCSEA's 12 Days of Christmas prize drawing starts this Monday, December 4!
If you’re an OCSEA dues-paying member (any state or local member), beginning on December 4 and for the 11 days that follow, you will be automatically entered into a drawing for some really great prizes. This includes an X-Box, Playstation 5, Apple IPad, Meta Oculous, laptops and 65 inch televisions. No entry is required. You only have to be an active OCSEA member to be entered.
If you win a prize, you will be contacted at the phone number and email on file with the union. The winners will also be announced on the OCSEA website at OCSEA.org/12DaysOfChristmas.
Login HERE to make sure that your contact information is up to date.
SOLIDARITY HEADQUARTERS and weekly bargaining events kick off next week
Did you know that OCSEA's Bargaining Solidarity Headquarters is open? What's that, you might ask? Your union is working hard to be visible to OCSEA members and the public and to bring awareness to the upcoming state contract bargaining process and the good work of state employees. And one way to do that is through our OCSEA Solidarity Headquarters located in downtown Columbus.
OCSEA's Solidarity Headquarters is officially open to all members who have questions about state contract negotiations and who want to get more involved in the bargaining process. The Headquarters is located at 65 East State Street, Columbus 43215 (located on the first floor office, at the front of the breezeway, in the building east of the Ohio Theater). OCSEA members are highly encouraged to stop by to take part in events that build solidarity for bargaining!
Official solidarity events will begin next week, but members are more than welcome to visit the office starting now through the end of bargaining, Monday-Friday to get involved.
Downtown chapters are highly encouraged to bring members from the downtown offices to all events. Chapters around the state are also being asked to hold solidarity events at their worksites in conjunction with the solidarity events.
Upcoming Solidarity Events:
STATE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY - WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6
All OCSEA members are invited for coffee, donuts and bagels on Wed. Dec. 6 as we celebrate State employees and kick off bargaining. Join us at from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. We will be handing out free OCSEA t-shirts and more. There will also be information on getting involved in bargaining activities. Anyone who visits the headquarters will be entered into a weekly prize raffle.
SOLIDARITY SANDWICHES AND RALLY EVENT - WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13
The OCSEA Bargaining Team will present their bargaining proposals to management on Wed. Dec. 13. To show support, OCSEA members are urged to stop by the Solidarity Headquarters starting at 11 a.m. to show support. Members can grab a sandwich and then participate in a small solidarity rally outside the office to build support for a strong union contract. Again, there will be t-shirts, signs, stickers and raffle tickets and other items to show solidarity on-the-job.
Congratulations to our Week 1 Pledge Card raffle winners
OCSEA's Bargaining Pledge Card Solidarity Drive kicked off last week, and we're so excited to announce our first pledge card raffle winners! All winners signed a pledge card showing their support for the OCSEA Bargaining Team. Any member who signs a pledge card over the next seven weeks will be entered into a raffle. There are still plenty of chances to win. There will be one raffle a week for the next seven weeks, so make sure you sign a card with your chapter leader. The sooner the cards get in, the better chance you have of winning a prize.
Congrats to our winners:
- Susan Zimmerman - Ohio Veterans Home Chapter 2200 - 15.6 HP Laptop
- Karen Biglin - Mansfield Chapter 7010 - $100 gift card
- David Hagen - Ashland Chapter 300 - $50 gift card
- $500 Chapter Rebate - Mansfield Chapter 7010
The OCSEA Pledge Card drive is the first of many ways your OCSEA Bargaining Team will be working with the local chapters to reach out to members to build support. Every chapter has enough pledge cards for every member of their chapter to sign and has begun reaching out to you ask for your tried and true support of the OCSEA Bargaining Team!
Every member who signs a card of support will not only help build strength for a strong contract but will also be entered to win prizes weekly!!!
It's your OCSEA Bargaining Team's goal to cover the walls of OCSEA’s Headquarters with these cards so when we negotiate in our Union Hall, management will see that our Bargaining Team has the support of the entire OCSEA membership behind them. It’s symbolic, yes. But it’s much more than that. No one can stand on the sidelines. We need everyone involved in this fight.
Click to learn more about the Pledge Drive at OCSEA.org/bargaining.
Alberta Street chapter president gears up for bargaining, holidays
Aubrey Fetherolf, the President of Alberta Street Chapter 2575 has moved up in her job at Pharmacy Services/MH Central Office as well as in her union. And she’s union through and through, having been in union leadership––including as chapter president and vice president––for 12 years.
She recently started a chapter Facebook group to communicate to her members about bargaining the state contract, and with the help of executive board member Darius Johnson, put together a mobilization committee to help with their Solidarity Pledge Card drive. They’re also planning a chapter holiday party and bingo giveaway to get union members more involved.
Read more about Aubrey and what her tight-knit chapter is doing to build solidarity.