Remembering the reason for Labor Day: Workers and their unions!

This past Labor Day weekend, we all felt the excitement and the momentum. Working people and retirees are jumping at the chance to experience the union difference. OCSEA members showed up at parades, festivals and other Labor Day events to show their solidarity for working people and promote the power of being union!

Union activism is on the rise everywhere you look, as more people are fighting for a seat at the table. And, to top it off, unions remain overwhelmingly popular. New poll results from the AFL-CIO shows that more than 70% of Americans have a favorable view of unions, and that rises to 88% among those under 30 years old. And according to a new Gallup survey, growing numbers of people believe unions help the economy and want unions to be stronger.

“That working people—standing together and standing up for one another—are an incredible force for progress at work, in our unions, in our economy and in our democracy.” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond during the national union's State of Unions. He said that's why every day, more and more working people are finding out that the labor movement is the one of the only solutions to low wages, unsafe workplaces and more. He said unions are one of the only institutions left to help give workers the power they need. See the full State of the Unions event HERE.

Click HERE see AFSCME's Labor Day message that talks about the rising efforts for w voice in the workplace, especially from younger workers who strongly support unions (88% remember!) and know that they deserve better! And that being union will help make that a reality. Read more below under "Fresh Faces of Organizing in Ohio."

Celebrate being union! Get your FREE "It's Better In A Union" sticker today!

Fresh Faces of Organizing in Ohio

This power of being union was on full display during a panel discussion at OCSEA’s Biennial Convention where delegates were introduced to three Ohio activists who know what it’s like to organize their workplaces for the first time. Guests discussing their organizing successes and challenges included Kyle Stoller from the Franklin County Public Defenders’ Office; Jo Snyder, from the Wexner Center for the Arts; and Zach Frye from the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati.

The panel of young AFSCME activists discussed how they were each able to energize their members to organize for the first time ever. A recent Labor Day poll indicated that 88% of young workers in this country believe in the power of unions. Nine in every 10 Americans under the age of 30, and that's on display with these union activists.

Moderator Luke Ward from AFSCME Ohio Council 8 told delegates that there are important lessons to be learned from the newly organized that can apply to OCSEA chapters who have had collective bargaining for decades.

Some of the tools they utilized included activating Member Action Teams to map their workplaces as well as keeping members mobilized during "down" time by reaching out just to touch base. Luke said one of the most important lessons is that organizing isn’t something that you do once and forget it. He said keeping members’ engaged is key to strong chapters and organizing drives. "These are people who took a huge leap of faith at great personal cost," said OCSEA Pres. Chris Mabe. "But they knew that having a union in their workplace was key to having a voice on the job," he said.

September bulletin board flyers available online

The September 2023 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and 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 quick access to important union information. This includes OCSEA events, discounts and more.

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.

This month's virtual fliers include:

• Bargaining is Coming! Update your information! 
• Save the date: OCSEA Veterans Conference 
• Next year's conference update: CMCA/WAC Save the Date! 
• Kings Island fall member-only deals 
• OCSEA Nights with the Columbus Blue Jackets 
• Working Advantage September Savings

"Don't miss" member events and discounts

Don't miss out on these upcoming events and member-only discounts as we head into autumn. OCSEA's Extras benefits are exclusive consumer discounts and events for union members and their families. These perks are available thanks to the power in numbers that comes with being union! Visit OCSEA.org/Extras and sign in with your member-only MyOCSEA account to see what's new.

OCSEA Nights with the Blue Jackets

Watch the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets hit it hard on the ice! OCSEA and the Columbus Blue Jackets are excited to partner yet again for this exclusive offer for the '23-'24 hockey season for OCSEA members ONLY! OCSEA Nights for fall are Saturday October 14 against the New York Rangers and Friday, October 20 against the Calgary Flames. Pick one game or both! Any member with this LINK can purchase tickets. Get tickets.

Fall family fun at Kings Island

Fall is coming and so is all the fall fun that comes with it. Don't miss out on this member-only ticket deal for Kings Island. Spooktacular events includes Halloween Haunt for teens and grownups select nights September 22 - October 28. See the park transformed into bone-chilling scare mazes and scare zones, sinister live entertainment with hundreds of horrifying creatures lurking in the fog. Plus, enjoy night rides on your favorite roller coasters! Tricks and Treats Fall Fest is also back Saturdays and Sundays September 24 -October 29. with fall family fun for all! Click this LINK for all ticket deals. 

Cleveland Clinic workers hold off strike, secure contract win

Just one day before Cleveland Clinic union members at Lutheran Hospital were set to go on strike, union leaders fought hard to retain a new three-year contract. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 wrote the following on their amazing victory:

"Because of the courage of Members at the hospital and throughout our Union, together with the support of our Labor family, allies and friends, we secured an average increase of 15.6% in the first year, INCREASED longevity pay, PAID maternity/parental leave, short-term disability, retirement benefits, expanded rights and protections on the job! This contract is proof that when WE come together and fight back, WE WIN!"

Congratulations SEIU/1199 Lutheran Hospital caregivers! See a video about the victory!