OCSEA / AFSCME Local 11 Blog

Unions go above and beyond for our communities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:44:00 +0000

Members of Richland Correctional Chapter 7021 donating holiday meals to families in need.

As we head into the busy holiday season, I want to take this time to wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving. Here's hoping you are able to spend some time with family and loved ones and get a break from the rushing around that comes with this time of year. For those members working on Thanksgiving Day (and the days that follow), I say thank you for all you do.

As I travel the state, I can't help but admire all that our chapters and members are doing on the local level to give back to their communities. While you serve on the job all year long, your commitment to your communities doesn't end there. I say it year after year, OCSEA is proud of those who give their time, money and hearts to their communities this time of year, and all throughout the year.

This includes chapters like Warren/Greene/Clinton Chapter 8320 whose leaders are reaching out to help veterans and their families this holiday season. They are working with the Ohio Veterans Association to adopt three families in the counties they represent to ensure that they will have the best holiday possible. They are purchasing items that the VA is unable to provide, like stocking stuffers, gifts and other necessities of a joyous holiday.

Richland Correctional Chapter 7021 is also going above and beyond this holiday season to make sure families without are taken care of and have a meal on the table this Thanksgiving. The chapter donated over a dozen hams and turkeys to the local Salvation Army in Mansfield. The chapter leaders also said "thank you" to the public servants they represent by giving a ham or a turkey to each member to celebrate the season.

Do you know of a chapter or activist that goes above and beyond? Send photos and a description of how they give back to doneill@ocsea.org. Then nominate them for the OCSEA Horizon Award for charitable giving at ocsea.org/horizon. If they win, OCSEA will contribute $500 to a charity of their choice.

In Solidarity,

Chris Mabe, President
OCSEA

Labor wins a seat on the OPERS board

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 17:34:00 +0000

Dear sisters and brothers:

When I was elected to serve as your union president more than three years ago, one of my goals was to return the state employee seat on the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System board back into the hands of labor. Thanks to you that seat will now represent the voice of hard-working public employees like you! I am humbly honored to have been elected as the state representative on the pension board and to bring the voice of labor back to the table once again.

Labor has a long tradition of advocating for sound fiscal policy regarding pension systems as well as for strong health care benefits that hard-working public employees have earned and deserve in their retirement years.

It's important that state employees like yourself have the ability to retire with dignity and stability after their years of dedication and hard work.

But, there are a lot of people, including anti-labor, anti-public employee politicians, who call our pension a "golden egg." They scapegoat public employees for the economic woes of the state and threaten to rob them of what's rightfully theirs -- including their hard-earned pension.

Rest assured, as a 25-year employee with the Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Correction, I will fight night and day to protect our pensions so that you, me and the generations that follow us, can retire with dignity and security, too! Thank you for having the faith in me to be your voice.

In Solidarity,

Chris Mabe

Sunshine Week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:43:00 +0000

Sunshine week gives us an opportunity to reflect on ways in which governments should be more accountable to taxpayers. When it comes to privatizing services like the Parts Department in ODOT, food service in our prisons or long-term care for Ohioans with developmental disabilities, the public deserves to know what bang they are getting for their buck.

Governor Kasich and other proponents of outsourcing often talk about how contractors can provide government services “at the speed of business.” The only problem with that theory is it often can’t be tested. We don’t know if they’re “faster” or not because businesses that contract with the state aren’t required to divulge things like employee salaries, profits or even hiring practices.

That’s the sleight-of-hand about outsourcing. It’s easy to tout that private companies are cheaper, but because there’s no transparency or accountability around their business practices or financials, there’s no true way to know if they’re more cost-effective or efficient.

Here’s one example: The Kasich administration privatized the Parts Departments in all 88 county ODOT garages. The agency said outsourcing the service of providing spare parts for broken snowplows and other ODOT vehicles and equipment would be less expensive and more efficient than an ODOT employee working with their local autoparts store to procure parts.

But it’s anything but efficient. Because the private company, Mancon, is only in 12 ODOT districts, ODOT employees have to wait for parts to be delivered from a regional office, sometimes hours away. What’s more, the public doesn’t really know how long that’s taking. Nor do they know the downtime this has caused for snowplow drivers this season.

ODOT also said that outsourcing the Parts Department would allow ODOT mechanics to spend more time turning wrenches. Well, that hasn’t turned out to be true, either. Instead, mechanics are bogged down with paperwork to keep track of parts from a contractor that is new to the job. The contractor often gets parts wrong and the mechanic and the plow are stuck waiting for days.

When it comes down to it, no one is really minding the “store” when it comes to this private company and that’s the problem with so many government contractors. There is no real monitoring of their contracts to gauge if they are "faster" and there are no real consequences when companies are out of compliance. For something as crucial as ensuring our roads are plowed during these historic winters, the public has a right to know whether or not they are getting a bang for their buck or if they’ve been swindled by a pig in a poke.

Why we support Medicaid Expansion...and you should, too.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:13:00 +0000

Over a seven-year period, Medicaid expansion would infuse more than $13 billion into the State of Ohio budget for funding mental health and developmental disability services, DR&C medical costs and many other state-funded programs. Without it, state budgets could be forced to take more drastic cuts than already proposed under Gov. Kasich’s budget.

Not only will the social and human service agencies benefit, like ODJFS, MH and DODD, but Medicaid expansion will also help agencies that don’t receive those funds. In fact, the Office of Health Transformation has estimated that without the federal money, state departments will be forced to come up with $404 million more dollars to fund their agencies. That's because Medicaid helps offset General Revenue Funds used to fund other agencies, such as DRC, DYS, ODOT, ODNR and DAS, which are primarily funded with GRF. But without Medicaid, state agency budgets are back in the red, across the board.

Despite the clear benefits, the expansion provision that's an option under the Affordable Care Act continues to be used as a political football. More conservative members of the Republican Party reject it, while others like Kasich and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce support it. The Ohio House of Representatives took it out of their version of the budget after Kasich put it in his. And now the Ohio Senate must weigh whether it stays out or goes back in. Most believe it doesn’t have support on the Senate side either, or would only pass in a severely watered down form.

OCSEA, like most Ohio citizens, support Medicaid expansion because we know the money is tied to our members’ jobs and the services they provide. Besides, the federal government picks up 100 percent of the tab for the expansion over the next three years, and then 90 percent after that. The enormous benefits to Ohio citizens in need of medical care should trump all the crazy political posturing.

That's why we’re asking you to pick up your phone and call Ohio Sen. Scott Oelslager, (District 29) at 614-466-0626 and ask him to support Medicaid expansion today. Tell him the services you provide depend on it.

Thank you and In Solidarity,

Christopher Mabe
OCSEA President

We all have a story to tell!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:08:00 +0000

In March, a group of OCSEA activists converged on our Columbus headquarters to get schooled in media and messaging training. But this was no run-of-the-mill training. Those attending OCSEA's two-day Faces and Voices training gained a new perspective on their jobs, their service to Ohio and the importance of telling their personal stories about the work they do.

Many of our Faces and Voices "graduates" have already begun putting these skills to use. Not only will you see some of their stories in this magazine, but these activists are honing their skills around the state: speaking to their communities about their work and testifying before the legislature against budget cuts.

We all have a story to tell -- about our jobs, our families and our communities where we live and serve as public employees. Whether it's saving the environment like Ken Mettler from EPA or serving the unemployed like Tracy Mayor from ODJFS, we all have our own stories that can make a difference in the preservation of public service.

One of the reasons I hear from members who are afraid to speak out about their jobs, is that their agency prohibits them from speaking to the media. That's not entirely true. Yes, you are not permitted to speak on behalf of the agency for which you work. That's the role of the communications staff of your agency. But you are allowed to speak to the press on your own behalf or as a citizen. You are allowed to testify before the General Assembly about how budget cuts will impact your work. You are allowed to talk to the press about the things you do in your community, like charitable giving or military service. In fact, it's your constitutional right as an American to speak out!

Members also say they are afraid to speak up for fear of discipline or retaliation. I understand that. Sometimes, it's not easy to make waves. Management might try to intimidate you out of doing so. But let's be clear: never in the history of this union has an OCSEA member been disciplined for speaking to the press or talking to a legislator about his or her job. Think of those who came before us to fight for our rights. What if they were afraid to speak up or fight for what's right? What if they just sat back and waited for someone else to do it? What if that "someone" never came?

When it comes down to it, OCSEA members are motivated because we're dedicated to helping others. After all, it's called "public service" for a reason.

But with so much debate over what makes good public service or if "public" is even the route to go, we have an obligation to defend our work and convince our communities of our value. This, sisters and brothers, is the hardest sell...but if we don't speak up, who will?

In solidarity,
OCSEA President Christopher Mabe

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:41:00 +0000

I want to take this time to wish every OCSEA member a very Happy Holidays. With our busy lives, from family, work and union obligations, we don't always get a chance to stop and be thankful for all our blessings. I hope this time of year you get to relish in occasions that are filled with family and friends and that you get to enjoy some well-deserved time off. For those who continue to serve the public this holiday season, from our Road Warriors to our members at institutions statewide, I express my gratitude for all you do.

We've had an eventful year and let me be the first to say "thank you" for your activism. From budget fights to election wins, you were there. You hit the streets to gather petition signatures and supported initiatives aimed at keeping our elected officials accountable to voters. You've made calls on the federal level to fight for middle class issues and you've spoken up for worker rights across the Rust Belt despite overwhelming attacks. The union voice is being heard in Ohio and around the country. That voice is yours and mine, and, together, we will continue to make strides. I look forward to working side-by-side with you in 2013, no matter what comes our way.

OCSEA members have huge hearts and are important members of their communities. I see that all year long, but especially this time of year. While times aren't always easy for the middle class, OCSEA members continue to give back to their communities in a big way. Did you know? Communities that have an increased number of union members are more likely to donate to charity and are more likely to be involved in their volunteer efforts.

This includes OCSEA members like Central Ohio Chap. 2513's Margaret Smith, who volunteered with her daughter and grandson to pack boxes for St. Stephen's Community Center's One New Toy program. This includes Ross Correctional Chap. 7130, who continued the tradition of holding a holiday party, with Santa in tow, for community foster children. This includes Bill Homer and Jeff Condo, who delivered size-able donations to the Sandusky and Georgetown Veterans Homes, to pay honor to those who serve our country.

From contract enforcement to political action, from charitable giving to community volunteering, I am so proud of the OCSEA members I represent. You make this world a better place and I am humbled by all you do.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. And Happy New Year!

In Solidarity,
OCSEA President Chris Mabe

Main Street, Not Wall Street

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:16:00 +0000

Now that the election is over and President Obama won, Democrats and Republicans need to come together to ensure a balanced approach to solving our budget problems that will help Main Street--not Wall Street--thrive. That's why OCSEA supports renewing the middle class tax cuts and ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share.

There's a lot at stake for OCSEA members and their families as talks of the so-called "fiscal cliff" ramp up. Saving Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and renewing the tax cuts for the middle class are high on OCSEA's priority list. Did you know that if the tax cuts expire and aren't renewed for the middle class, an average family will pay more than $2,000 a year in additional taxes? What does $2,000 mean to your family?

Make the "Jobs, Not Cuts" pledge

Also at stake is a foundation for job growth that's crucial to healthy public services. Without jobs, the tax base shrinks and the support for public services will continue to dwindle. Infrastructure is another area of where we can't afford more cuts. The maintenance of our roads, bridges, waterways and public transportation systems have all suffered from the politics of "tiny government." A strong infrastructure is vital to the quality of life of Ohioans.

State agencies also depend on what happens at the federal level. Agencies like ODJFS, Aging, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities are all funded with federal Medicaid dollars. ODOT is funded largely by federal gas tax money and services to our veterans are boosted by federal spending.

You know because you see it first hand: State and local governments have been decimated over the last decade. We can't afford any more cuts in services, or job cuts to our membership. But if "fiscal cliff" talks don't pan out as we hope, state agencies will no doubt have to recalculate their budgets with more cuts. And we can't let that happen.

Please stay tuned to our website, social media and publications so you can help us take action around the federal budget talks. None of us can afford to be silent.

In Solidarity,
OCSEA President Chris Mabe

Leading by example

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Giving back to others is a huge part of who I am. Whether it’s helping out my family members, my Morrow County community or everyday Ohioans as a public employee and union activist, giving to others is part of my nature.

I often think back to the days when it wasn’t as easy to donate to charity because money was tight, or when I, myself, needed help. But kindness always comes back twofold. Don’t forget that. As a public employee, I am able to serve in many capacities and am blessed, thanks to my union, that I have the resources and time to give back to my community, both financially and through volunteering.

I once read that, “the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” As your OCSEA Secretary-Treasurer, every day I see the gracious hearts of my union sisters and brothers. People like Doug Mosier, from Chap. 7010 ManCI, who every year gives dozens of turkey’s to Ohio veterans at Sandusky’s Ohio’s Veteran’s Home; activists like BWC Chap 2535’s Tim McAllister, who encourages his members to give back all year long through toys drives and donating to missions; leaders like Miki Mercer, Hocking Chap. 3700, who worked with a local business to donate $2000 to charities like Community Action and the Humane Society; or Washington Chap. 8400’s Randy Lisk, who serves as band booster president to support music in his community.

Giving back is also a huge part of the mission of the OCSEA State Board of Directors. As the leaders of OCSEA, it’s important that we lead by example. We need to care about our communities, because that’s where our members live, work, play, raise families and go to church.

This holiday season, the OCSEA Board is working with the Central Ohio Labor Council to gather toys for the St. Stephen’s Community House One New Toy program. The Board will be taking new toy donations at the Dec. 8 Board meeting in the OCSEA Union Hall. We are asking members to drop by and bring a new toy for a child infant age to 14. Gift cards are also appropriate for youth ages 12-14.

No act of kindness, however small, is wasted. We encourage your participation and thank you in advance for your generosity.

Working Families Win! We DID Remember in November

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:07:00 +0000

You have a lot to be proud of today.

You and thousands of union members across Ohio worked tirelessly to fire up labor households and to bring home Ohio for President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Brown and other OCSEA-endorsed candidates last night!

Your passion and your dedication kept our phone banks fired up and kept hundreds of "feet on the street" these last weeks to get out the vote. Despite attempts to suppress the vote and intimidate us, despite the unprecedented amount of money spent by our opponents... You did it! And last night, working families won!

All of the money in the world wasn't a match for union activists who took this election personally. After all, making decisions about what kind of government we are going to have, what kind of country we are going to be, is personal to public employees. Our jobs, our families and our standard of living depend on it.

We saw some major victories last night, not only for President Obama and Senator Brown, but also for OCSEA-candidates like Heather Bischoff (Ohio House District 20) in the Pickerington area and Cincinnati's Connie Pillich (Ohio House District 28), who were up against an opposition with endless amounts of resources and campaign cash. In the Ohio Supreme Court, William O'Neill, former OCSEA staffer, dealt a major blow to his opponent and will now be the only Democrat on Ohio's Supreme Court.

We are, of course, disappointed that Issue 2, the fair district amendment, didn't pass. We believe without reservation that something MUST be done about our rigged election system. Elections for our congressional and legislative candidates will never be fair until we do. It's unfortunate that the deep pockets of the opposition were able to confuse voters with distortions and misinformation.

But last night, Ohio saw what labor is really made of. They found out that "We'll Remember in November" isn't just a slogan, it's a reality. We DID Remember this November, and I couldn't be more proud.

In Solidarity,

Christopher Mabe
President

The fight continues in Wisconsin and Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Since Tuesday, everyone’s been asking me what I think Wisconsin means for us here in Ohio. Here’s what I tell them: win or lose, the battles continue and we can never give up fighting for the middle class.

In Ohio, we know that better than anyone. We might have won Senate Bill 5 last year, but this year, the battles continue. Last year, we had to fight for collective bargaining but today we’re fighting ODOT privatization, redistricting reform, voter suppression, prison privatization and further government downsizing. Next year, we could be battling Right to Work legislation. But that’s not going to stop us.

Wisconsin public workers and all the union members that helped in the recall effort from around the country, including from Ohio, should be proud. I know I am. Not only was it an unprecedented fight (only the third recall in history), but “WE the PEOPLE” of Wisconsin took back the Senate--in itself an historic accomplishment.

Now Governor Walker won’t be able to ram through extreme legislation like the bill that destroyed collective bargaining in that state. Now there will checks and balances. That was the goal from beginning, and it was achieved.

Plus, Walker and his allies, the Koch brothers, had to spend tens of millions of dollars just to hold on. That’s also unprecedented.

In Ohio, we won the battle last year to eliminate collective bargaining, but like Wisconsin, the fights continue. In Wisconsin, and here in Ohio, too, our work is far from over.

But we will win, one fight at a time.

In Solidarity,

Christopher Mabe
OCSEA President

Pension changes considered in legislature

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:41:00 +0000

As OCSEA indicated in a recent story in the Public Employee Quarterly, it looks like there is finally some movement on changes to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. Ohio Senators introduced four bills this week and heard testimony from OPERS Executive Director Karen Carraher and staff from the other public employee pension systems.

OPERS indicated the fund is losing about $1 million a day. The OPERS Board of Trustees made the recommendation three years ago to increase service eligibility by two years to ensure the fund stays solvent. Also at risk without reforms is the OPERS health care benefit, which would run out as early as 2014.

Word is still out as to whether changes will ultimately pass the legislature. While the Senate may pass something before legislators take a summer recess, Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder has indicated that the House would wait to weigh in for an actuarial study expected to be finished in July.

To learn more about the OPERS recommendations and the future of retiree health care, OCSEA members are encouraged to attend one of the OPERS-sponsored meetings being held this spring and early summer: OPERS pension regional meetings:

May 22 -- Columbus • 5:30 p.m. • OCSEA, 390 Worthington Rd., Ste A, Westerville [MAP IT]
June 6 -- Dayton • 5:30 p.m. • Council 8, 15 Gates St., Dayton [MAP IT]
June 12 -- Toledo • 5:30 p.m. • Council 8, 420 South Reynolds Rd., Toledo [MAP IT]
June 26 -- Cincinnati • Council 8, 1213 Tennessee Ave., Cincinnati [MAP IT]

Read more from OPERS on recommended plan changes here.

Workers' Memorial Day: Collective bargaining keeps us safe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:35:00 +0000

OCSEA Pres. Christopher Mabe

As we approach Workers' Memorial Day this weekend, I'm reminded of how dangerous public sector work can be. Correction Officers, Highway Workers, Therapeutic Program Workers and other front line employees are constantly being injured on the job, at times, with devastating results.

Who can forget Easter Sunday 19 years ago--the Lucasville Riot? OCSEA will never forget the prison riot that resulted in the death of Correction Officer Bobbie Vallandingham. Nor will we forget the everyday heroes who have lost their lives on the job in recent years, specifically Shawn Blubaugh from District 5 ODOT in 2010 and William Hesson, a Juvenile Correction Officer from the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in 2009.

Workers' Memorial Day is particularly important to remember given the recent attacks against public sector workers and our right to collectively bargain. Senate Bill 5 threatened to take away workers' rights to bargain basic health and safety issues including minimum staffing, number of hours worked and health care plan design. In the same way, a Right to Work initiative in Ohio also threatens to strip workers of their voice on the job--a move that would have devastating consequences for workers' safety.

It is well-documented that Right to Work states have poorer worker safety records. Without the input of labor and front line workers, employees fair much worse when it comes to occupational safety.

For us, the health and safety of our members goes hand in hand with collective bargaining. Labor/management health and safety committees that are required under the OCSEA contract help ensure we have input about our personal protective equipment, our safety and how work gets done without injury or incident.

This Workers' Memorial Day we pay tribute to those who have lost their lives or been injured on the job by vowing to "fight like hell for the living." Let's stand up for the safety of workers who put their lives on the line each day by supporting strong collective bargaining rights.

In Solidarity,

Christopher Mabe

Dana's Story

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:32:00 +0000

CO Dana Kissel speaks at today's Close the Loopholes rally

My name is Dana Kissel I am a Correction Officer at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. I've been an officer for 11-and-a-half years. I've lived in Mansfield all my life. Working for the Department of Corrections runs in my family. My mother is a Correction Officer. My cousin is a Correction officer and my aunt is a Correction Officer. Combined, my family has over 50 years of Corrections experience.

On March 21st I went to my job on second shift, just like any other day. I was at the desk where me and one other CO watch over 120 inmates. I'm a regular in my pod and have been there for three years now. On that day, I was letting an inmate out of his cell who was on cell restrictions because he exposed himself multiple times, one of those times to me. The inmate assaulted me leaving me with a concussion, a fractured nose and multiple contusions. Thankfully, I had a good partner. He saved my life.

However, this inmate should NEVER have been put into general population. But because Ohio's prisons continue to be overcrowded and understaffed, this inmate, who had been confined to the more restrictive "local control" area numerous times for bad behavior, was back in general population. He was placed in general population because there were no beds in the more restrictive area. WHY IS THIS? IT'S SIMPLE, because of budget cuts and corporate tax loopholes.

Because of budget cuts and these tax loopholes, we have the same number of Correction Officers today than we did before the Lucasville riot. Because of these loopholes, we have 1500 fewer Correction Officers than we did 10 years ago. Because of these loopholes, I have a concussion, a fractured nose, and multiple contusions. This is not acceptable.

We're asking that these loopholes be closed and that everyone pay their fair share. We need to do it for the safety and security of our staff, the inmates, our communities, and our families. Thank you.

Help us stop "Cleveland Plan"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:19:00 +0000

As many of you have heard, Democratic Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is asking Ohio legislators to pass a law that will allow him to eliminate all current contracts for Cleveland public school employees. Sound familiar? The so-called “Cleveland plan” is simply SB 5 in disguise and amounts to a full-on attack against Ohio public teachers and, by extension, all public employees.

At a press conference this week, Jackson and some Ohio Senators announced that they will introduce a bill in the General Assembly that contains no less than 23 lines of anti-collective bargaining language. Unfortunately, among those at the press event were two of our supporters who fought side by side with us last year to “kill the bill.” That’s unfortunate and disappointing.

I’m writing to ask that you help kill this backdoor attempt to take away employee workplace rights by writing your legislator an email. Email legislators now.

Let them know that you oppose this and any attempts to eliminate employee rights and voice in the workplace. Tell them you stand together with Cleveland teachers and other Cleveland school employees in opposing this measure.

We need your help to fight back. Tell legislators not to pass this plan that guts collective bargaining. Instead, urge the mayor to sit down and listen to teachers. Email legislators now.

In Solidarity,

Christopher Mabe
OCSEA President

At time of economic pain, veterans win support

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:14:00 +0000

According to a recent edition of Hannah News, while many bills remain stagnant due to a sharply divided Ohio General Assembly, one group not being ignore by lawmakers is the state’s veterans:

“In a legislative session where few bills pass and bicameral consensus can be rare, veterans and military initiatives are drawing lots of attention and support from lawmakers of the 128th General Assembly. The passage of several bills aimed at service members' interests continues a special focus begun in the previous Legislature, which enacted Gov. Ted Strickland's proposal to strengthen advocacy for those who served and their families by creating the Department of Veterans Services. The bills have cut through the typical partisan divide, with the measures usually drawing unanimous support in at least one chamber and dissenters numbering a mere handful.” (Hannah News Service, Aug. 2010)

As the report indicates, a number of provisions have passed that are helping out veterans in Ohio, including a constitutional amendment that will bring a major bonus program to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. OCSEA reported on these bonuses in a recent Union Bulletin Board Network flier.

Watch the rally on Wall St. Today at 4 p.m.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:07:00 +0000

Over 10,000 people will be rallying on Wall St. starting at 4 p.m. today to send a message to Big Banks and Congress: Good Jobs Now! Make Wall Street Pay! Click HERE to watch it live this afternoon.

Republicans have twice voted to oppose a public debate of a Wall St. accountability bill; Yesterday, their filibuster was broken. However, now we need 60 votes to end the debate and get the bill VOTED on. Ralliers will be outside city hall in NYC at 4 p.m. today asking for just that. Marchers will walk past Wall St.'s biggest offenders in the economic crisis that have left 11 million Americans jobless.

Remember to be thankful for your job and do what you can to support the Wall St. accountability bill. Take action now by clicking HERE.

Does your job pass the "Yellow Pages Test?"

noreply@blogger.com (SallyJoM) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:21:00 +0000

Does your job pass the "Yellow Pages Test?" New Jersey's new Governor is IDing state jobs that can be privatized by asking whether or not the service can be found in the Yellow Pages. The first thing NJ Gov. Chris Christie did after taking office was to establish a "privatization panel" that will root out the state work he can give to private contractors. Could it happen here in Ohio? You bet it could!! Go here to learn more about what we're up against in Ohio.

New Ohio Afl-CIO newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:29:00 +0000

Check out the latest Ohio Afl-CIO newsletter with stories including

- Ohio Will Not Challenge Health Care Law
- CWA Backed Telecom Bill Passes Ohio House
- Members, Activists Gather in Columbus for Good Jobs Now!
- Obama Makes Necessary NLRB Appointments
- Ohio Supreme Count Rules Against Works - AGAIN and AGAIN
- Why John Kasich Cannot Become Ohio's Next Governor!
- and more!

Jobs Now! Sign the petition

noreply@blogger.com (SallyJoM) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:09:00 +0000

Let's keep the focus on jobs--your job in particular. Without Ohio public sector employees, no one else can do their job! I don't know about you, but without ODOT and City of Columbus employees no way was I getting to work this morning. But with state stimulus dollars running out in July, critical services like road maintenance, public safety and security, employment services and services to the mentally ill will wither on the vine, and massive cuts to front line public employees will take place. As many as 3 million jobs across the country in the public and private sector will be lost without further help for states like Ohio.

Sign the petition here to keep the focus on jobs!

OCSEA members impacted by phasing out state income tax

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:04:00 +0000

A Columbus Dispatch article today says what unions already know: phasing out Ohio’s income tax will cost a lot of money – starting with $814 million next year and $12 billion by 2020.

Analysts say they can’t tell how the state budget would be impacted but say that of that $12 billion figure, $11.5 billion would come from the general revenue fund. This, of course, would have a huge impact on vital services to Ohioans.

John Kasich is running on the platform of phasing out the state income tax. He also announced his running mate, State Auditor Mary Taylor, today.

Two big unions debating lending support to Senate health care reform bill

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Some large labor groups are meeting to discuss whether or not to support the Senate's version of the health care reform bill, which has undergone too many concessions in the past few days.

The SEIU and the AFL-CIO are both meeting today to make some important decisions. Both are considering doing little to help the bill pass, or maybe even not supporting this bill at all at this point. Both organizations are extremely disappointed with the actions of Democratic leadership in the matter, particularly that of Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman who pulled a 180 on his stance on the bill.

However, leadership says they still support the House bill, which maintains some of the key components labor wants to keep in the end. They wish for a public option to make it into the final bill and for an excise tax on benefits to stay out of it.

AFSCME is asking union members to call Congress this week, and especially on Thursday, Dec. 17. Urge Representatives to stand strong on real health care reform.

Keep following the debate at http://www.ocsea.org/hcan.

State revenues drop nationwide; Ohio needs budget solution now

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:49:00 +0000

Despite signs of national recovery sprouting this fall, economists anticipate that state governments' current struggle with withering revenues will continue for at least another two years.

In fact, a study of 44 states released Nov. 23, 2009, by The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute for Government (PDF) indicated a decline last quarter for all three revenue sources. Ohio experienced the following declines: personal income tax (-14.1%), sales tax (-9.2%), and corporate tax (-111%). These numbers are not shocking when you consider the number of people in your family, neighborhood, and community who are jobless. For me, it's my cousins Bryan and Scottie and my good friend and neighbor Lisa... and that's just my small circle.

Meanwhile, lawmakers and number crunchers toil to figure out how to pay for public services, including those with increasing price tags such as education and corrections, according to another new study reported Nov. 28, 2009, by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The state fiscal situation continues to generate difficult and often painful choices for lawmakers. They were compelled to close a cumulative budget gap of $145.9 billion in the process of crafting their FY 2010 budgets. But their actions were not enough to cover continued lackluster revenues. Thirty-six states already report another round of gaps since FY 2010 began. The total now hit $28.2 billion, and the fiscal year for most states doesn't end until June.

“The states are facing nearly unprecedented declines in revenue collections,” said William Pound, executive director of the NCSL. “Coupled with probable declines in federal stimulus support over the next two year, the state fiscal picture is bleak. We’re heading into an era of retro budgeting, where state spending is receding to levels five to 10 years ago.”

With a budget fix still stalled in the State Senate this week, OCSEA leaders warn that a budget impasse hurts all Ohioans and Ohio needs to generate new revenue or put vital services at risk.

“These lawmakers need to stop playing chicken with the state budget. The bill is simple; it’s straightforward and will get the job done. Anything else is just muddying the waters,” said OCSEA President Eddie L. Parks.

Keep up on union budget news at www.OCSEA.org/budget.

Buy American to help neighbors, economy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:21:00 +0000

Do you think it mattered a few years back when I replaced my worn, factory-issued tires with Coopers? You bet it did! I was raised to believe it always matters when we purchase American goods and services.

Surely, the people and mayor of Findlay would agree, according to a Nov. 25, 2009, article by ToledoOnTheMove.com:

“That's 100 more people working. That's 100 more people spending their money in our community, paying their bills, paying their taxes so it means a lot,” said (Pete) Sehnert.

In a community where unemployment is more than 9 percent, the news from the Cooper Tire and Rubber plant was welcomed -- despite the fact that much of the $10 billion investment will go toward automation (the downside). You see, last year folks worried that the plant would shut down permanently.

So each time you buy American, you just may be keeping the doors to a local business open, saving a neighbor's job, and putting food on a family's table. You may be saving public employee jobs, too, by enabling employers and workers to pay taxes that fuel good government and public services. Ever think of that?

Unfortunately, however, it's become increasingly more difficult to find the "Made In USA" label on items such as clothing, housewares, linens, and electronics.

That's why Roger Simmermaker's third edition of the "How Americans Can Buy American" book lists more than 20,000 brand name products and services. Check out his online sample for details on bath soap, cocoa, coffee, convenience stores, cotton swabs, fabric softeners, general food products, hair care products, hotels, household cleaners, mustard, sunglasses and tires.

So, do you think it matters? And, more important, what can you do to make a difference?

Time to say yes to health care reform to fix economy, help families

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:29:00 +0000

OCSEA President Eddie L. Parks challenged readers of the editorial page in Saturday's Cincinnati Enquirer to say "yes" to health care reform.

We have been debating the issue of health care in America since Truman was president in the 1940s. The problem is worse than ever and I have had enough of people who just continue to say NO to every idea.

There is a reason both the AARP and the American Medical Association have endorsed the health care bill that passed the House of Representatives last weekend. The bill will help families all across America by giving them more choices, reducing costs and stopping providers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

The other side isn't offering solutions. They simply want to keep saying NO to everything so they can block reform and keep the status quo that benefits insurance companies over us.

If you're a public employee union member covered by a collective bargaining agreement and you think reform legislation won't make things better for you in terms of your negotiated wages and health care benefits. Think again.

Forget our state's current economic troubles for a moment and just consider the rising cost of health care. With employer spending on premiums projected to rise by at least 72 % over the next 10 years, it's unlikely that this crisis is going to go away on its own and it's nearly impossible for future contract negotiations to avoid the economic consequences of not fixing health care.

If you're still not sure what's in health care reform for you and your family, check out this new AFSCME factsheet (PDF) now.

The OCSEA website offers various resources on health care reform and its impact on public employee union members.

Good beginning: Ohio's stimulus dollars save, create 14,000+ jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:44:00 +0000

So far it sounds like the stimulus dollars spent in Ohio are off to a solid start.

The Associated Press this week reported that Ohio's most needy citizens have benefited substantially from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with a large portion of federal stimulus dollars spent on unemployment benefits, Medicaid payments and other social service programs. Education was a big winner, too.

Equally important, according to preliminary state reports released on Tuesday, more than 13 thousand jobs were saved or created in Ohio. Plus, an additional 669 jobs were reported just today by the feds. Keep in mind that these figures do not include funds distributed to cities, counties, and other agencies -- only state and federal, according to an update from today's Plain Dealer.

Now consider the ripple effect for local communities and businesses! I wish we had figures on that, too. In fact, I suspect our state unemployment rate (10.8 percent for August) likely would be higher if the stimulus bill had not passed in February.

Want to know exactly where the recovery and reinvestment legislation is generating results by saving jobs and creating new ones? Get a national picture and zoom all the way down to zip code or congressional district on the federal government's http://www.recovery.gov/ website. Check out the interactive maps to identify what companies were awarded exactly how much money and how many jobs those dollars generated.

You can also go straight to http://www.recovery.ohio.gov/for Ohio's data.