OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / AugUST 7, 2025

The OCSEA Convention registration deadline for timely credential submission is tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 8 by 5 p.m. Forms were mailed to all presidents and secretaries with the official Convention Call. Each chapter must send at least one delegate to the biennial convention. Chapters must submit delegate forms to Theresa Smith by Aug. 8 via email: tsmith@ocsea.org, fax: 614-865-4030 OR mail: 390 Worthington Rd. Westerville, OH 43082 ATTN: Theresa Smith.

 

Any registrant whose paperwork is received past the Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. deadline will have to go through the Credentials Committee starting Wednesday evening of Convention to determine their delegate status.

 

The OCSEA 36th Biennial Convention is Aug.28-Aug. 30, 2025, at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. convention events do take place the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 27. Get more OCSEA Convention pre-news at OCSEA.org/convention.

Click below for more convention news, updates, hotel information and more.

OCSEA.org/Convention

It's time to rally up AFSCME brothers and sisters! Put on your OCSEA/AFSCME gear and head to downtown Cleveland this weekend for the AFL-CIO Nationwide Bus Tour. Join union members in Cleveland this Sunday, August 10 at 4 PM for the "It's Better In A Union" Rally. It will take place at Heritage Park located 1283 Riverbed St., Cleveland, OH 44113 (Corner of Elm and Riverbed streets). Special guests will include the Dropkick Murphys!

 

Union members across Ohio will come together to let working people know: the best way to take back our power is by joining with coworkers to form a union. We are better in a union...because we are all stronger to protect freedom, fairness and security for all. The rally is one of many "It's Better In A Union" events taking place around the country leading up to Labor Day on the AFL-CIO Nationwide Bus Tour! For updates on the Cleveland rally, visit the Ohio AFL-CIO's Mobilize page HERE. The downtown Cleveland rally will be free.

 

It's is going to be a very busy day in Cleveland! Don't miss out! In addition to the "It's Better In A Union" Rally, UAW President Shawn Fain will hold a rally at 2 PM at the UAW Local 1005 at 5615 Chevrolet Blvd. in Parma. And then later in the evening at 7 PM, the Dropkick Murphys will hold a full concert hosted by the Ohio AFL-CIO at Jacobs Pavilion. Get information on purchasing tickets for the Dropkick Murphys concert HERE or email jperlman@ohaflcio.org for details.

Cleveland – This Sunday, Aug. 10 ✊🎸
Solidarity. Music. The labor movement—ALL in one unforgettable day!

 

🕑 2:00 PM – Rally with UAW President Shawn Fain
@ UAW Local 1005 (5615 Chevrolet Blvd., Parma)

 

🚌 4:00 PM – AFL-CIO “It’s Better in a Union” Bus Tour 
@ Heritage Park (1283 Riverbed St., Cleveland)
with special guests Dropkick Murphys 

 

🎶 7:00 PM – Union Night Concert with Dropkick Murphys 
@ Jacobs Pavilion (2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland)

 

📧 Tickets & info: jperlman@ohaflcio.org

Last week, a panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the government’s motion to stay (or pause) a preliminary injunction issued by a federal district court judge against an executive order excluding most federal agencies and workers from the right to collective bargaining. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of federal union workers by their unions including AFGE, AFSCME and others.

 

“This ruling is certainly a setback for fundamental rights in America,” stated American Federation of Government Employee (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley on the harmful ruling that guts federal collective bargaining. “While we assess this order’s impact and our next steps in these preliminary injunction proceedings, we remain fully committed to fighting this case on the merits and are confident in our ability to ultimately prevail."

 

AFSCME President Lee Saunders is urging Congress' passage of the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which could override the union-busting executive order and safeguard federal workers’ collective bargaining rights.

 

"We urge the bill’s supporters to act swiftly and compel an immediate vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act. Federal workers have dedicated their lives to keeping our communities safe and healthy, and they need a voice on the job to continue to defend the essential work they do from the billionaires and anti-union extremists who are trying to rob working people of our power.”

 

OCSEA continues to watch attacks on collective bargaining nationwide and its potential impact on Ohio's own collective bargaining for public employees as governed by law since 1983. "Busting unions and decimating public services in the name of 'efficiency,' 'cost-savings' and 'reduction of redundancies' is simply our anti-labor opponents' way of cutting vital services and union rights," said OCSEA President Chris Mabe. "We will not sit back and let anti-union attackers and their version of Ohio's 'DOGE' take away our union rights and the vital public services our members provide." 

When union members come together on Labor Day, it's about more than barbecues and parades. Labor Day is a true celebration of union members and workers and is a way of showing the power we all can have to make a difference on the job. See below for some upcoming Labor Day events. Or find an event happening near you at this LINK.

The Greater Northwest Ohio Central Labor Council AFL-CIO will hold their annual Labor Day parade and celebration of unions on Monday, September 1. The parade, which will step off at 9 AM, will take place in downtown Toledo starting at Summit and Monroe Streets and going along Summit, Jackson and Huron streets.

 

Local Unions affiliated with AFSCME, including OCSEA, will be staging at the north curb lanes (opposite side of AFL-CIO) of Monroe at Summit and heading west toward 5th Third field. Union participants should begin arriving at 8 AM.

 

OCSEA members are encouraged to bring their families, friends and co-workers to show their union pride. Please wear AFSCME green or OCSEA gear. Proud union signs are encouraged.

The Cincinnati Labor Council's 2025 Labor Day Weekend Family Picnic Basket Celebration will be Saturday, August 30 from Noon to 6 p.m. at Stricker's Grove! Tickets are $25 per person. Download the event flyers and ticket order form HERE. Got questions? Contact Brian at the Cincinnati Labor Council at info@cincinnatiaflcio.org or 513-421-1846.

The Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO will hold their Labor Day Picnic on Wednesday August 20 from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The event is at Wolfe Park Shelter House located at 105 Park Dr, Columbus, OH 43209. The picnic dinner is open to all union members and their families. Food will be provided but an RSVP is required. RSVP to attend HERE. Got questions? Contact Jamie Shumaker at jshumaker@columbusaflcio.org.

The union was on hand at this week's ODOT District 8 County-Wide Meeting. Union leaders were front and center with t-shirts and other swag to speak with OCSEA members in ODOT and to help answer any questions they had about the union. Leaders also gave members information on their chapter leaders and meetings. The three chapters servicing OCSEA union members in the district include Chapter 900, Chapter 3100 and Chapter 8320.

 

"I used this time to organize our members, and to personally invite them to their next chapter meeting, and to let them know they can reach out to me any time with questions or concerns," said Jill Tummler-Mackenzie, president of Chapter 3100 and a delegate to OCSEA District 2, which represents members in this area of southwest Ohio.

 

Chapter leaders were also joined by union representatives from the Union Benefits Trust (UBT) and the Union Education Trust (UET), so members could learn about these important union benefits. Leaders also passed out union contracts to those who had not received one yet and had New Member packets available for new hires. Fact sheets on "Article 11- How to Make a Healthy and Safe Work Environment," "Article 31.06 FMLA," "Membership Involvement," and "Where We’ve Been and A Brief History" were also distributed to give members more insight on their union rights and involvement.