OCSEA’s Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Committee held another successful conference last weekend in Westerville. The theme for this year’s conference was “Planting the seeds for the future,” a forward-looking agenda that included discussions on diversity in the workplace and the importance of education. Attendees also learned more about the state contract and got an update on legislative issues from OCSEA President Chris Mabe.
See video highlights HERE.
Sherry Little, who serves as the chairperson for the CMCA and a board member for District 7, says conferences like this help grow the union. “This is the type of information that we need to communicate, not only with the members who are here, but also for them to take back to their chapters,” Little said. “It’s our job as older union members to educate our younger members of what the union is all about.”
The conference kicked off Friday evening with training on the new state contract so leaders better understand what was gained through the bargaining process. One of the attendee at the training was steward and newer union leader Erinn Cottrill, an Administrative Professional 1 from the Chillicothe Correctional Institution. “With this new contract, it’s good for me to understand what’s in it and what’s changed so that I can defend the contract and protect myself and my members,” Cottrill said. “I want to be able to go into any fact-finding situation with as much knowledge and foundation as possible.”
Saturday’s session began with opening remarks from President Mabe. He talked about the threat of job cuts filtering down from Washington D.C. where the current administration has fired thousands of federal workers and stated it will ignore collective bargaining agreements. “We have to prepare for some of the most tumultuous times that we will ever see in our history,” Mabe told the crowd. “But I can tell you if there is any group that can do it, it is the group here in this building today.”
Attendees at the conference also heard from Javan Reed, the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Simmons College of Kentucky, the last designated Historically Black College and University (HBCU). He gave an inspiring speech about the benefits of education and diversity. “Education is the transformative force that empowers individuals and uplifts communities,” Reed said. He also pointed out that unions like OCSEA are in a unique position to be a champion in fostering fairness, innovation and opportunity in the workplace.
That message about education resonated with union member Ashley Flowers, an Information Technology Specialist 2 with the Dept. of Taxation. “I stress using UET funds all the time. I think that is going to give us more opportunity and job security in the future,” she said. “If they are letting go of employees that is a way to keep your job.” This is the second time Ashley has attended CMCA Conference, and she says she enjoys networking and meeting members from other chapters.
The conference wrapped up with Derek Grosso, the CEO of the Columbus Young Professionals Club, speaking about his work in fostering collaboration and empowering membership-based organizations. “The question before us is not if our work will continue but how we ensure the seeds we planted will grow and bear fruit for generations to come,” Grosso said.