PUBLIC EMPLOYEE QUARTERLY - OCSEA

Goin’ to the mat
LOCAL
AFL-CIO
Ohio Civil Service
Employees Association
CHRISTOPHER MABE
President
Recent attacks on
our employees in
Ohio Dept. of Job
and Family Services offices
and ODOT Travel Centers
are just the next example of
this administration’s lack of
consideration for working
families. Here we have two
groups of employees whose
jobs are still vitally important;
but poor planning, not
involving the union and the
mistaken belief that all state
services must be brought to
Columbus have made a mess
of things.
We don’t believe it had to
be this way. Of course, we
disagree with these changes.
But in the case of the ODJFS
offices, had the administration
come to the union first,
instead of after putting out
a press release, we could
have shared lots of ideas for
alternative work arrangements.
Had the state come
to us, we could have worked
with other county JFS offices
like in Athens County to see
about free or cheap space,
for instance. We could have
had conversations about
the hardship this is creating
for families and talk about
the possibility of expanding
telework. There are all sorts
of options that just weren’t
explored.
The same goes for the
Travel Centers. In that case,
we had some initial conversations
with ODOT, in which
we opposed the plan. But the
agency assured us that those
positions would
be eliminated as
people retired,
instead of abolishing
these jobs.
Well, that didn’t
happen either.
The administration
decided to put out
a press release and
let the chips fall
where they may.
So now we’re applying
some public pressure…and,
boy, do I mean pressure! You
can’t open up a paper right
now without reading about
the JFS office in the Plains or
the travel center in Bowling
Green.
Our activists are pouring
it on, too. Affected members
have contacted their local
elected officials, been brave
enough to talk to newspaper
reporters and sent detailed
letters to the decision-makers
in state agencies about how
families and communities
will be impacted.
OCSEA has called for a
meeting with JFS as well.
We’re participating in Town
Hall meetings and encouraging
all OCSEA members to
attend. (For a list, check
ocsea.org). The Town Halls
will be a great opportunity
to tell your story. Staff and
union leaders will continue
to talk to management about
alternative work locations
and telework in JFS and to
ensure that every travel counselor
gets placed in a job in
ODOT.
“Now our opponents
are flanking us on all
sides instead of with one
monstrous hit – like they
did with Senate Bill 5.”
~ OCSEA Pres.
Christopher Mabe
I’ve said in the past
that the fight is the same but
that the rules have changed.
Now our opponents are
flanking us on all sides
instead of with one monstrous
hit – like they did with
Senate Bill 5. But we have
learned, too. And now our
responses to those attacks
are more sophisticated, more
multi-dimensional and a lot
faster.
I am so proud of the
response from our members
and leaders who understand
what it takes to go to the mat
and stay vigilant for the fight
ahead.
President
Christopher Mabe
Vice President
Kelvin Jones
Secretary-Treasurer Kathleen M. Stewart
Board of Directors:
District 1: Shawn Gruber (DR&C), Jerry Lugo
(ODJFS), Vacancy
District 2: Carrie Johnson (MH),
Michelle Hunter (DODD)
District 3: Doug Mosier (DR&C), Vacancy
District 4: Bruce Thompson (DYS),
Cindra Drake (Taxation)
District 5: Cindy Bobbitt (ODJFS),
Jeana Campolo (DODD)
District 6: Laura Morris (Health), Debra King
Hutchinson (ODJFS), Gerard "Rocky" Jolly
(School for Blind), Shirley Hubbert (BWC),
James Adkins (DR&C), Karen Ryther (RSC),
John Anthony (Taxation), Annie Person (DYS),
Amy Turner (ODOT), Vacancy
District 7: James LaRocca (Lottery),
Lawrence McKissic (BWC)
District 8: A.J. Frame (DR&C),
Beth Sheets (ODMR/DD)
District 9: Mal Corey (DR&C), Jeff Condo (OVH)
Retiree Representative: Ron Alexander
OCSEA Headquarters:
390 Worthington Road, Ste. A,
Westerville, Oh 43082
Live Operator: 614-865-4700 or 800-969-4702
Automated Dial: 614-865-2678 or
800-266-5615
Fax: 614-865-4777
Web site: www.ocsea.org
Customer Service: 888-OCSEA-11
(888-627-3211)
OCSEA Public Employee Quarterly (USPS
010-112) is published quarterly for $6 by the
Ohio Civil Service Employees Association,
390 Worthington Road, Suite A, Westerville,
OH 43082. Periodicals postage paid at
Westerville, OH and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the
Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, 390
Worthington Road, Suite A, Westerville, OH
43082.
OCSEA Public Employee Quarterly is produced
by the OCSEA Communications Department:
Sally Meckling, Director; Deirdre O’Neill-Wedig,
Pattie Boy, Ana Goodlet, Associates.
To update email and other contact information
go to:
www.ocsea.org/update or call 800-969-4702.
LAKE
WILLIAMS FULTON LUCAS
ASHTABULA
OCSEA
OTTAWA
DISTRICT 7
GEAUGA
WOOD
CUYAHOGA
DEFIANCE HENRY
SANDUSKY ERIE
TRUMBULL
LORAIN
PORTAGE
OCSEA
PAULDING
MEDINA
DISTRICT 1
HURON
OCSEA
SENECA
SUMMIT DISTRICT 4
OCSEA
PUTNAM
HANCOCK
DISTRICT 3
MAHONING
ASH-
VAN WERT
WYANDOT CRAWFORD
LAND
WAYNE
STARK
ALLEN
RICHLAND
COLUMBIANA
HARDIN
MERCER AUGLAIZE
MARION
HOLMES
CARROLL
MORROW
JEFFER-
LOGAN
KNOX
TUSCARAWAS
SON
SHELBY
UNION
HARRISON
DELAWARE
COSHOCTON
DARKE
CHAMPAIGN OCSEA
OCSEA
DISTRICT 6
DISTRICT 5
LICKING
MIAMI
GUERNSEY BELMONT
MUSKINGUM
FRANKLIN
CLARK
MADISON
MONT-
PREBLE GOMERY
FAIRFIELD
NOBLE
PERRY
MONROE
GREENE
MORGAN
OCSEA
FAYETTE
DISTRICT 2
HOCKING
WASHINGTON
BUTLER
OCSEA
WARREN CLINTON
DISTRICT 8
ROSS
VINTON ATHENS
HAMILTON
HIGHLAND
MEIGS
PIKE
JACKSON
CLERMONT
OCSEA
DISTRICT 9
BROWN
GALLIA
ADAMS
SCIOTO
LAWRENCE
6 Public Employee Quarterly Winter 2013