OHIO CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
UNION NEWS / OCTOBER 30, 2024

Congratulations to the Mount Vernon City OCSEA bargaining team whose union team leaders recently negotiated a successful three-year contract. The members of the city workforce voted unanimously to approve the contract earlier this month. The city employees work in water; wastewater; water office billing; street maintenance; meter reading; cemetery, parks, buildings, and land; and engineering.

 

"We went in strong because we knew the city police and fire had already bargained, and we had ammunition to fight for what we needed to focus on recruitment and retention," said Chris Hagner, a negotiation team member and president of Chapter 4210. Chris said there was initial push back by management, as is the case with most bargaining situations. "Ultimately we were able to justify the value of paying our members what they deserve," said Chris.

 

Not only was the union team able to negotiate a 15% increase over three years (5%,5%,5%), but they were also successful in bargaining a base adjustment increase that meant 11-15% additional increase dependent upon classification. Mount Vernon City union employees will see the increase, retroactive to July 7, 2024, in this Friday's paycheck. Additionally, the team bargained a longevity stipend and an increase to shift differential, all putting more money in members' pockets.

 

On top of that, the team was able to bargain increases in vacation, personal leave, and sick leave. Additionally, retirement conversion will now align with that of police and fire, and management-provided life insurance will increase from $15,000 to $50,000. The team also saw improvements in dental and vision and bargained an increase for work boots. A minor takeaway is that new hires will be required to pay back any cost of associated with CDL training if they leave employment before two years.

 

"I'm just really proud of the team and all they did to represent the members," said Chris. "I think that everybody put in a good and equal effort, and they were looking out for their coworkers," he said.

 

"This is one of the best local government contracts we’ve ever seen in the history of OCSEA, and it was good to work with management that was on board," said Staff Representative and lead negotiator Jim Beverly. He says the contract focuses on growing a living wage, retaining and building quality staff, and drawing more people from the outside to build their careers in Mount Vernon. "It will be a guide for contracts to come," he said.


The union bargaining team consisted of Chris Hagner, Jack Boyd, Kevin McGarvey, Jenifer Roddy and Jim Beverly (Staff, lead negotiator).

 

View the Mount Vernon City Contract HERE.

Voting our jobs is how we make real progress in this nation for working people! This means prioritizing the issues that impact us as union members––in the workplace, at the bargaining table, at home, and in the communities that we serve as public employees. That means voting for freedom, dignity and opportunity, the very tenants of the labor movement! 

 

In the most recent edition of the union magazine, The Public Employee Quarterly, four OCSEA members break down some of the issue that are impacting how they will vote on Election Day this year.

 

“We all got into public service to help our communities, to help them grow,” said David Hwang, a Software Development Specialist 4 with the State Board of Education who knows firsthand the burdens and attacks that come with being a public employee. “But there are forces that want to dismantle the good work we do and make our work political,” he said. 

 

“I’ll be voting for those who will protect my right to collective bargaining and the freedom for workers to organize on the job,” said DeLena Brown, president of Stark Chapter 7600 who serves in the Canton area as a Customer Service Representative for the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services. “For me, there is so much value in solidarity strength in numbers when it comes to having a voice on the job.” 

 

How do we know if a candidate is worthy of our union vote? Many candidates offer a lot of lip service when it comes to supporting workers and middle-class families. But on Nov. 5, we must remind politicians that they work for us. If VOTING UNIONS is one of your top priorities, we urge you to put each candidate on your ballot through this Union Values Test: 

• Will they protect MY UNION VOICE on the job?
• Do they SUPPORT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, the vital public services I provide, and my right to civil service protections?
• Will they fight for affordable HEALTH CARE and protect my union-fought benefits?
• Do they have an economic plan that focuses on BUILDING UP WORKING PEOPLE and the middle class?
• Will they address the public employee STAFFING CRISIS? • Will they fight for my RETIREMENT SECURITY?

Read more at OCSEAVotes.org or in your fall edition of the the union magazine at OCSEA.org/PEQ.

For more than 40 years members of public employee unions including OCSEA and AFSCME have been punished for entering public service. That’s how long the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) have slashed Social Security Benefits they’ve earned from other jobs. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown has been leading the fight to repeal WEP and GPO, and now the battle could be nearing the finish line.

 

“These laws discourage people from entering public service as a second career,” Brown said. The Social Security Fairness Act, which Sen. Brown sponsored, now has 62 bipartisan co-sponsors, which is more than enough votes to overcome a filibuster—a procedural hurdle that can block legislation from receiving a vote in the United States Senate. The bill reached that milestone after Brown held a field hearing in Columbus where union members testified about the devastating impact that WEP and GPO can have on their retirements. Watch an OCSEA video on the event HERE.

 

Thankfully, there is a rising tide of bipartisan support to repeal WEP and GPO on both sides of Capitol Hill. This includes 218 members of the House of Representatives signing a discharge petition to force a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. That vote is expected to happen after the November election.

 

The Social Security Fairness Act is the latest example of how Senator Brown is standing up for organized labor and protecting the retirement benefits of union members. He also fought to save pensions for more than 100,000 Ohioans. Now, Senator Brown has the same dogged determination to repeal WEP and GPO. “This has taken too long, and we’re not giving up until we fix it,” Brown said. 

 

Read the full story in the fall edition of the OCSEA magazine at OCSEA.org/PEQ.

Last week, OCSEA President Chris Mabe joined leaders from the Ohio AFL-CIO and the Ohio Education Association in calling for an end to gerrymandering in Ohio. The labor leaders spoke at a rally held at IBEW Local 683 in Columbus and urged Ohioans to vote “Yes” on Issue 1. The statewide ballot issue would create a Citizens Redistricting Commission and ban politicians and lobbyists from drawing maps for Congress and the state legislature.  

 

“This is our last chance to push back with everything we have and stop the gerrymandering of politicians in the state of Ohio,” Mabe said.

Early voting in Ohio continues EVERY SINGLE DAY through this Sunday, November 3. You can vote at your county's early voting location only. Find your early vote location HERE. See the schedule below or visit VoteOhio.gov. NOTE: There is NO early voting on Monday November 4. 

 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5 at YOUR designated polling location, which is different than your early vote location. Find your polling place HERE. Absentee voting by mail is also an option. Completed absentee ballots must be post-marked by November 4 or hand-delivered to your county board of elections.

EARLY VOTING:

Oct. 30-Nov. 1: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
SAT. Nov. 2: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m
SUN. Nov. 3: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

The November 2024 Union Bulletin Board Network (UBBN) flyers are here and available for download at OCSEA.org/UBBN. The flyers include information on the fall union magazine, an online member deals "How To," upcoming holiday deals and events, labor gives back and 12 Days of Christmas and more. Check back each month for new flyers to share. Have an AMAZING union bulletin board you want to share? Email photos to communications@ocsea.org.

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. This includes quick access to OCSEA bargaining news, events, discounts and more. Chapters who don't have boards are urged to email the flyers or UBBN link to their members and distribute at meetings. Any chapter that needs assistance with printing fliers should contact the OCSEA mailroom at 614-865-4733.

This month's virtual fliers include:

• Read Your Union Magazine
• How Do I Access My Extras member-only benefits
• Thank You Veterans
• Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Wildlights Deal
• Kings Island Winterfest Deal
• Union-Made Thanksgiving
• Labor Gives Back Award
• Working Advantage Holiday Deals
• OCSEA 12 Days of Christmas

VIRTUAL Basic Steward Training (2 sessions)

Trainer: Ryan Ochmanek, Staff Rep.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024:

• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Register: Basic Steward Training session

VIRTUAL Evidence, Investigatory, and Pre-Discipline Training (2 sessions)

Trainer: Ryan Ochmanek, Staff Rep.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024:

• 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Register: Evidence, Investigatory, and Pre-Discipline Training session