More than 50 union leaders and activists attended the first OCSEA Leadership Training of 2026. This year the training has expanded to include not only chapter leaders but also union stewards who go through three days of learning, networking and team building.
“I think this was one of our best leadership trainings so far,” said OCSEA President Chris Mabe. “This group was very engaged and excited to learn about the challenges and opportunities we face as a union, and they took home knowledge that will help them become stronger leaders.”
The training covers a wide range of topics including the state budget, the nuts and bolts of running a successful chapter and recent attacks on union members who work for the federal government. Yessica Garcia, a training coordinator for ODJFS in the Office of Workforce Development and a member of Erie/Huron Chapter 2201, says attending the conference was one of the best decisions that she’s ever made. “I’m meeting a lot of my brothers and sisters in the union, and it’s a good networking opportunity,” said Garcia.
With negotiations on a new state contract beginning later this year, the leaders and stewards discussed their priorities for negotiations while knowing a lot depends on who becomes Ohio’s next governor. Bryan Weaver, the President of Montgomery Chapter 5700 and an infrastructure Specialist 2 with Public Safety/Ohio State Highway Patrol, says it’s one of the most consequential elections we will face because it is bigger than state workers. Weaver is especially concerned about what will happen if Vivek Ramaswamy is elected governor. “I was always told as a kid that a rising tide lifts all ships. If we have an elected leader who is only concerned about the biggest ships in the water and is OK with other people running aground, then we are going to fail not only as a state but also as a nation,” said Weaver.
Three more leadership trainings are scheduled for later this year. Leaders and stewards who are interested in attending one of the trainings are encouraged to reach out to OCSEA’s Member Resource Center (MRC) for more information at MRC@ocsea.org or 888-627-3211 (888-OCSEA-11).