Over the weekend of July 18, hundreds of OCSEA activists gathered in Columbus to attend the 2026 Presidents Conference, which is held by the OCSEA Board of Directors biennially, in years in which there is no regular convention. Chapters send delegates to this biennial event to focus on the goals of the union and to learn skills for building local solidarity.
This year, the conference theme was “From the Workplace to the Statehouse,” focusing on the vital importance of voting our jobs as public service workers this November. “When we talk about ‘vote your job,’ it’s not just a bumper sticker, it’s not a tagline,” said President Mabe as he welcomed delegates on Saturday morning. “It’s time we get the best seat at the table to move us forward,” said Mabe.
The sentiment that the November election is among the most important in our lifetime was shared by many speakers. “Ohio is being targeted in this election. Republican special interests are spending like crazy on candidates like Jon Husted. We can’t afford any more Jon Husted in the U.S. Senate,” said Kathleen Clyde, the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. “Ohioans are fed up and ready to send a message in November,” she added.
Matt Lundy, candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives, agreed. “I wasn’t planning on running this year, but I was too frustrated with the direction of our state, our legislature, our country,” he said. He also reminded us of the fight to repeal Senate Bill 5. “We didn’t win the war, we won a battle with SB 5. Each day in the legislature, there are efforts underway to erode collective bargaining. There are many more battles to fight,” he said.
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner also joined us via Zoom from the campaign trail. “We need to make sure that our government is working for us. That only happens if we all vote, if everyone has the right to vote and if each one of us takes the responsibility of making sure friends and family understand the importance of this election,” she said.
Ohio Court of Appeals Judge Betty Sutton also spoke about her experience as a union-friendly judge and committed to continuing that fight once reelected. “We sometimes wonder if it matters who is on the court. But it does. Our courts need your help. They stand between us and madness,” she said.
Delegates also heard from former Governor Ted Strickland, who warned us in no uncertain terms about the threat posed by billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy’s power grab in Ohio. “Ramaswamy has no idea what life is like for you for your family, for your children. He looks down on us,” he said. “If money determines who the next governor is, we’re going to have Governor Ramaswamy. But there’s a power greater than money. It’s people power,” he added.
Delegates also heard from Dr. Amy Acton via video from the campaign trail. “When I am Governor of the great state of Ohio, we are going to lower costs, we are going to fight to end corruption, we are going to fully fund our schools and public services, and so much more,” she said. “We are going to tell Mr. Ramaswamy in no uncertain terms that you cannot buy this state!”
Finally, long-time friend of labor Senator Sherrod Brown spoke about his fight to re-enter the U.S. Senate to continue fighting for working families. “The job I do – and will do again come January – gives me the opportunity to help regular people,” he said. “We’re demanding a government that works for Ohio, and this November, we’re going to get it,” he added. See more from Sherrod at the Presidents Conference HERE.
The results of the November election will be monumental for all Ohioans, and particularly for state employees as we elect the person who will lead the state in contract negotiations. See election resources and volunteer opportunities below.