OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / December 18, 2025

OCSEA's 12 Days of Christmas, the annual holiday celebration of OCSEA members, wrapped up on December 12. The names of twelve members were drawn and awarded prizes during that nearly two week celebration.

 

The festive 12 days of raffle prize drawings is just one simple way that OCSEA leaders say thank you each year to our active union members. As public employees, OCSEA members give so much of themselves to Ohio and to our communities. OCSEA is proud to recognize the efforts of our public employee union members and the contributions they make each and every day!

 

We look forward to great 2026 filled with union activism and solidarity with all our brothers and sisters! Visit OCSEA.org/12DaysofChristmas to see the OCSEA recipe for success for union involvement. A different ingredient was posted each day throughout the celebration! Share them on social media and use them as a tool on the chapter level all year-long to get others involved.

Union Recipe For Success

Last week, a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550), a bill that would restore collective bargaining rights to 1 million federal workers. 

 

It was labor and its pro-union allies that drove the passage of this bill in the House, with union members nationwide putting pressure on legislators by phone and email. "With nearly 70 percent of Americans supporting unions, politicians face a clear mandate to protect workers’ rights and the freedom to have a voice on the job," says the AFL-CIO. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Reps. Jared Golden (Maine-D) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa-R), came to the floor for a vote by a rare discharge petition and passed 231-195 with support from Republicans and Democrats. 

 

“We commend the Republicans and Democrats who stood with workers and voted to reverse the single largest act of union-busting in American history," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

 

The legislation still requires approval in the Senate to be enacted. “We need to build on this seismic victory in the House and get immediate action in the Senate,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “And also ensure that any future budget bills similarly protect collective bargaining rights for the largely unseen civil servants who keep our government running.” Read more.

 

Learn more about AFGE, one of the nation's largest federal employee unions.

On December 10, 2025, an overwhelming majority of workers at The Columbus Dispatch and Newark Advocate came together to announce the formation of the Dispatch News Guild. It is the first time in the long histories of both newspapers that journalists have come together to unionize. Tell USA TODAY Co. to recognize the Dispatch News Guild!

Members of the Columbus Metropolitan Library submitted union cards last week, officially initiating their intent to hold a union election. Workers with the library system announced the move as CML United. Tell the Columbus Metropolitan Library that you support library workers.

Starbucks workers in 65-plus cities are on strike for a fair contract! Baristas at corporate stores are fighting for better pay, fair scheduling and respect on the job. We stand in solidarity with Starbucks workers. Learn more and sign the petition. See a map of unionized Starbucks HERE, including over two dozen in Ohio.

Last week's response to our "Baby, It's Cold Outside" request was amazing! OCSEA members from all over Ohio sent us photos of themselves and their co-workers working outside. From maintaining roads and transporting prisoners to monitoring landfills and running fishery nets (and everything in between), OCSEA members are busy at work no matter the weather! All who responded to date have been mailed an OCSEA knit hat to help keep them warm––and to show off their union pride and solidarity!

 

You, too, can get your very own OCSEA logo-embroidered knit cap. If you work outside anytime during the day, send us a photo, and we'll send you a hat. Just email us a photo at communications@ocsea.org.

 

Thank you to all OCSEA members who brave so many obstacles to make Ohio happen! You make us proud! Interested in telling YOUR public service story? Go HERE.

Send a photo

Tell your public service story

College scholarships are available to the families of OCSEA dues-paying members through AFSCME and the AFL-CIO. Apply before the deadlines mentioned below. Click them images or find all information HERE. And, look for more information on the OCSEA 2026 Les Best Scholarship program coming the first of the year.

Help us share the good news this Season of Giving! Email communications@ocsea.org so we can spread the word about the Labor Gives Back efforts of your chapters and membership. Please send photos of your charitable giving, if possible! Photos help to tell these important Labor Gives Back stories. Contact Deirdre Wedig in Communications with any questions or for support.