OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / FEBRUARY 4, 2026
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OCSEA salutes Vice President Rocky Jolly on his retirement
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After years of dedicated service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to working people, OCSEA Vice President Gerard "Rocky" Jolly has officially retired from State of Ohio service and has stepped down as Vice President with OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11. Brother Jolly passed the VP torch to activist Cynthia Watiker, who began in the position on Friday after official approval by the members of the OCSEA Board of Directors.
Brother Jolly, a union activist with The Ohio State School for the Blind, was first elected OCSEA Vice President in August 2019 and was reelected in 2023. For nearly three decades, he has held many positions within the union including Ohio State School For Blind Chapter 2529 President, District 6 President, OCSEA State Board of Directors member, and a Union Education Trust (UET) Board Trustee. Rocky was a pillar of the collaborative Combined Charitable Campaign (CCC) throughout his state career, including serving as its state co-chair during the duration of his time as Vice President.
"The strength of the union today was built on communication and trust," said Jolly. "And it's important to continue building a path where voices are heard," he said, calling union solidarity a "team effort."
Jolly's impact can’t be measured just in years served, but in the countless members he stood up for, the contracts he helped secure, and the strength he brought to our union every single day. He has worked tirelessly to listen, understand and learn the concerns of our members.
"I've always thought of myself as a 'man of the people,' and I'm proud to say I never swayed from that ideal. I'm humbled to have been a part of building this movement and to have stood by the hard-working union members who make Ohio happen," said Jolly.
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Watiker steps into OCSEA VP position
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Cynthia Watiker, an activist with and President of Franklin County Job and Family Services Chapter 2508, will fill the OCSEA Vice President seat vacancy left by Rocky Jolly.
Prior to becoming Vice President, Watiker served on the OCSEA State Board of Directors, where she chaired the Future of Work Committee and was a member of both the Finance and Judicial and Internal Affairs (JIAC) committees. Since joining OCSEA in 2008, she has been a passionate advocate for workers’ rights, promoting equitable workplaces and striving for improved wages and benefits for all union members.
As President of Chapter 2508, Watiker has led several union negotiation teams for the stand-alone Franklin County Job and Family Services contract bargained with the county every three years. She is a Customer Service Specialist with the county agency.
"I feel blessed to have been given this opportunity and look forward to working alongside my sisters and brothers to be a voice for public workers all across this state," said Watiker.
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Cynthia Watiker, OCSEA's new Vice President
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Union Bulletin Board flyers available for download
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This month's Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. Use these flyers for your worksite union bulletin boards for quick access to OCSEA news, events, discounts and more. Chapters should upload them monthly to keep the union news fresh!
Don't have an onsite bulletin board? The virtual bulletin board network at OCSEA.org/UBBN gives OCSEA members access to union flyers with a click of a button. Chapters that don't have boards are urged to email the flyers or UBBN link to their members monthly and distribute at chapter meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.
This month's virtual flyers include:
- Register for annual CMCA Conference - March 6-7
- Applications open for OCSEA Les Best Scholarship
- Black History Month: Looking back and organizing forward
- Thank you Winter Weather Warriors
- Member-only MAC tournament deals through Rocket Arena
- There's a lot to love about being union!
- Working Advantage February savings you'll love
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Photo courtesy of the Ohio Department of Transportation, January 2026
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National union honors humbled ODOT union member
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AFSCME, our national union, honored OCSEA Hamilton-Clermont Chapter 3100 member Joe Estes this week in an interview on its social media. The AFSCME video highlights the Ohio Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) union brother from the Cincinnati area who made headlines due to his heroic work during the most recent snowstorm. Estes was profiled by local and national news and all across social media when he helped clear snow-covered roads to ensure a sick baby could safely reach Cincinnati Children’s Hospital the winter storm. Read OCSEA's story about Joe Estes' heroic story in last week's union news.
Brother Estes, a Highway Technician 4 out of District 8 ODOT, told AFSCME he was humbled by the events. "I'm just humbled and honored. Yea, I plowed the way and acknowledge my role in all of this, but they're the ones who saved that baby's life. I was just able to play a small role in getting them there," said Estes referring to the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) he assisted. But, as we see it, public employees (proud and humble), ARE the real heroes––helping other public worker teams and our communities each and every day!
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Video: AFSCME interviews ODOT hero. Click below.
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Apply for the Les Best Scholarship by April 30:
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Minority conference hotel sign up deadline is February 13
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Just a reminder! OCSEA's annualCommittee on Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference is taking place the weekend of Friday, March 6-Saturday March 7. The hotel registration deadline of February 13 is quickly approaching. If you plan to attend, it's important that you make hotel reservations for yourself or your attending chapter members as soon as possible.
All CMCA Conference events will take place at The Embassy Suites Hotel-Independence, 5800 Rockside Woods Rd., Independence, Ohio 44131. The cutoff date for hotel reservations is February 13. The discounted rate is $124 per night.
Room reservations must be made directly through the hotel:
Website: CLICK HERE
Central Reservations Phone Number: 800-315-1185
Group Name: OCSEA 2026
Group Code: 90Y
The conference theme is "From Grassroots to Greatness,” focusing on labor and political action. The conference registration deadline is March 1. Get all conference deadlines and important information at OCSEA.org/CMCA.
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